Ex-CMS upset over Chavan's self-appraisal

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s predecessors haven’t taken too kindly to his veiled attack on their performance, particularly their rate of clearing files.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s predecessors haven’t taken too kindly to his veiled attack on their performance, particularly their rate of clearing files.

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Some of these ex-CMs have reportedly expressed their displeasure to the party high command saying Chavan humiliated them by making the statistics public. They have assured their close aides that they will hit back at the CM at the right time.

On Saturday, Chavan released the data comparing his performance with Vilasrao Deshmukh (two terms), Sushilkumar Shinde (one term) and Ashok Chavan (two consecutive terms). The analysis rated him better as he cleared more files in less time than earlier CMs. This was seemingly a response to legislators from his own party as well as ally NCP, who accused him of holding up their proposals.

“If he (Chavan) is so interested in statistical analysis, all ex-CMs would be very happy to analyse his performance in making the Congress stronger and making it win elections, and also in making party workers happier,” a senior Congress legislator told HT. He refused to be drawn in the controversy by getting identified.

Another leader who has won two general and assembly elections under earlier chief ministers, said Chavan’s effort was a political disaster. “There are better ways to get even with one’s political rivals… this surely isn’t one.”

But a Chavan loyalist claimed that the CM came out with statistics only after getting a nod from the party high command. On Monday, Chavan met party president Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi – who is backed Chavan in the past - and later called on President Pranab Mukherjee. This was his first visit to Delhi after the Congress patched up with its estranged NCP on July 25.