Chavan becomes new Maharashtra CM

The Congress party finally announced Maharashtra Industry Minister Ashok Chavan as the new chief minister of the state to succeed outgoing Vilasrao Deshmukh, who had to quit following last week's terror attacks in Mumbai.

'Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) has communicated that Ashok Chavan will be the leader of the legislature party,' Mukherjee announced even as Revenue Minister and veteran politician Narayan Rane criticised the state Congress after losing out in the race.

Sonia Gandhi was authorised by the state Congress Legislature Party on Thursday to select the new leader after the members failed to arrive at a general consensus.

The 50-year-old Chhavan represents Mudkhed constituency in the Assembly and was elected a Member of the Parliament for the first time in 1987 and to the Assembly from 1999.

Chavan’s father, the late Shankarrao B. Chavan was also chief minister twice - between February 1975-May 1977 and later March 1986-June 1988.

Rane, however, revolted against the new chief minister saying that Chavan did not have the experience to be the chief minister of a state.

He also slammed Congress party for delaying the decision in naming the new chief minister without any reason.

Rane said, "While the state faces such a tough situation, there is still no leader. I have not understood the reasons behind it, despite observers from Delhi coming here."

"Vilasrao Deshmukh's behaviour was shameful. He is a blot on the position of CM and has the blood of all dead and injured on his hands," he added.