Will leave when high command asks me to: CM

On a day speculation about a reshuffle in the state cabinet and a change in leadership turned rife, with one of the contenders for the chief minister’s post Narayan Rane meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, CM Prithviraj Chavan sought to downplay talk of a change of guard but said he would move out when the party high command asked him to.

On a day speculation about a reshuffle in the state cabinet and a change in leadership turned rife, with one of the contenders for the chief minister’s post Narayan Rane meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, CM Prithviraj Chavan sought to downplay talk of a change of guard but said he would move out when the party high command asked him to.

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“I don’t decide on such matters. I will follow directives that are issued to me,” he said.

Admitting that some people wanted him “out,” the CM, at the same time, attempted to play down the significance of industries minister Rane’s meeting with Sonia Gandhi, saying, “Senior leaders keep on meeting our president as a matter of routine.”

Indicating he was still in charge, Chavan said he was considering reshuffling his cabinet. “Though the date is not fixed, we plan to do it before the winter session [of the state legislature].”

Many Congress leaders are demanding Chavan’s ouster because they doubt his ability to win numbers in the 2014 Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.