MUMBAI: The burst of crackers, dancing, music and distribution of sweets at the state Congress party headquarters here and at several district Congress offices in other parts of Maharashtra state yesterday marked the induction of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi.
The party men as well as supporters of Deshmukh burst into widespread celebrations as soon as the news of the induction was relayed to the Congress leaders in Mumbai.
A senior Congress leader told Arab News that now Deshmukh’s council would be held in New Delhi instead of Mumbai.
Later, speaking to Arab News, Deshmukh confirmed the receiving of a telephonic call from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Delhi informing him of being made a Cabinet minister and asking him to be present for the swearing in today in New Delhi. Indications were, however, known in the Congress circles in the state that the Congress High Command was pleased with the work of Deshmukh and would reward him with a Cabinet minister rank in the expansion.
Along with Deshmukh, Mukul Wasnaik, member of Parliament from Ramtek constituency in Vidarbha region, was also gifted with a Cabinet berth in the expansion. Another young and dynamic member of Parliament from Sangli, Pratik Patil also received a call from the PMO office and was informed of being made a minister of state.
Along with Deshmukh, Wasnaik and Patil, others who have been inducted into the Cabinet from Maharashtra are Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) treasurer and former Civil Aviation Minister with independent charge, Praful Patel, and Congress leader from Mumbai Gurudas Kamat and former minister of state in PMO office Prithviraj Chavan.
