Asked whether Latur, the home town of Vilasrao Deshmuk, former chief minister and federal minister for heavy industries, would get an opportunity to be represented in the ministry during the expansion, Chavan, the beta noire of Deshmukh smiled and evading a reply just said: "Let's see if Latur can be accommodated in the ministry."

To another question whether Latur was being discriminated against in the allocation of funds for development, Chavan said: "Punjab Gov. Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, federal Minister for Heavy Industries Vilasrao Deshmukh and former Chief Minister Shivajirao Patil Nilengekar are our leaders. So far Latur has always been financially assisted and this will continue in the future, too. The guardian minister for Latur district keeps me informed if there are issues to be solved or requires attention. And any issue that needs to be solved will be taken care of."

On the disputed Wabli Dam issue between Maharashtra and neighboring state Andhra Pradesh, Chavan responded to a question as to how far it was justified on the part of the Andhra Pradesh government to deny security cover to visiting Maharashtra ministers.

"The chief ministers of both the states held a meeting to sort out the problem relating to the Wabli Dam project," he said. "It was agreed during the meeting that both chief ministers would agree and accept the court verdict. Still, the decision to deny security to the Maharashtra ministers is wrong and unfortunate as both the neighboring states enjoy cordial relations. It's our wish and desire to maintain good relation with Andhra Pradesh in future, too."

Chavan dismissed reports in the media about important government offices being shifted out of Latur to his hometown Nanded.

"I categorically deny that there is any move on my part to move the state government offices out of Latur. I assure you that not a single government office would be moved out from Latur to Nanded. At least now I have not received any proposal of bifurcation of any government office. There may be a demand for the bifurcation of Education Department and that of the Deputy Director's office. But no proposal even in this aspect has been received by me yet. In my view there should be an overall development in Marathwada region," he said.