Holding Chavan responsible for the fiasco over the appointment of Thomas as the CVC, Mungantiwar said: “This paint will not be washed away; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made a statement in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on record. The conditions that prevailed now were similar to those which led (his) predecessor Ashok Chavan to resign and the chief minister should therefore resign without delay,” Mungantiwar added.

Lashing out at Chavan, the BJP leader criticized him for consoling Ashok Chavan during a party rally in Nanded recently. He announced that a BJP rally would be held on the first day of the Budget Session of the state legislature on Monday and claimed that more than six lakh people from across Maharashtra would attend the rally.

Meanwhile Chavan came out in defense of Prime Minister Singh on Friday stating that he was the one who chose Thomas for the post of the CVC. “The prime minister was absolutely correct, when he said in the Rajya Sabha that he was not aware of the charge sheet against Thomas,” Chavan told journalists.

“I am totally responsible for selecting the three names who were to be considered for appointment as CVC. I knew Thomas since the time when he was Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs. We were looking for a sober person, as the CVC’s job is very important. I therefore take complete responsibility and I have nothing to say more after the prime minister has spoken in the Parliament. All I can say is what he said was absolutely correct,” Chavan added.