Maharashtra's Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh survives from the revenue minister Narayan Rane's storm of aggressive campaign and open revolt against him.
Rane, the former shivsainik and Chief Minister of the state makes entry in the Congress with the ambition of Chief Ministership. But even after serving in Congress for two more years he doesn't find ambition to be fulfilled.
In acute frustration he worked in the sainik's style to challenge the Vilasrao's leadership over the Videocon land issue. As the State Assembly and General Elections is in the offing the Congress high commands wasn't in a mood to change the guard in the state.
Defying Rane's stand high command declares appointments of State party President, Mumbai congress chief and the election campaign committee’s chief.
All the appointments have been made in favour of Vilasrao and Rane has been totally deserted. Even his supporter Prabha Rau has been packed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh much before. Ranes had point to make but no one has come to his support openly.
Vilasrao is little bit lucky comparing to his competitors for the post. Vilasrao and now energy minister in the centre Sushil Kumar Shinde aspires for post in the beginning of their political career. They also collectively revolt against the then chief minister Sharad Pawar (in 1991).
After eight years in 1999 when the Congress-Rashtrawadi Congress ruled out the Sena-BJP Government in the state it was Vilasrao who get the chance to lead the State Government. It was little disappointment for Sushil Kumar, but before the election year in 2004 his dream comes true and he has been garlanded with the Chief Minister’s post.
In his able leadership Congress again came in power but in a surprising bid the Vilasrao replaces him and he has been send as Governor of Andhra Pradesh. Vilasrao doesn't have remarkable achievement on his name as a Chief Minister. He just ruled the state and ensures that leadership should remain only his prowess with sowing his supporters in organization and government.
Secondly he doesn't have strong competitor for the post within state congress. Rane is outsider and has not yet mould in Congress culture. Vilasrao is being considered strong opponent of Rashtravadi Congress's Chief Sharad Pawar. Congress is a big brother in ruling alliance in the state and both parties fighting indirectly with each other to marginalize the other.
This fact comes handy for Vilasrao to get the second term. Taking in view the coming elections high command has strengthen the Vilasrao with all weapons in his arm. Means it is indirect instruction for him to deliver or get punished for failure. For defeat he will be solely responsible and wouldn’t be able to throw responsibility on other.
It is indeed tough challenge for vilasrao as the inflation and price rise is on its height, uneven monsoon is going to hit the kharip agricultural produce, opposition Party Sena-BJP taking every chance of unrest among the farmers by organizing 'rumane morcha' on large scale in the state showing state's failure and untowards approach towards farmers.
But the confident politician in Vilasrao is yet smiling. He seems quite confident to regain power under his leadership. If in the deciding moments he delivers on the front of peoples and party's expectations he will be the king otherwise he would have to quit quietly and ultimately the leadership will go to the next able king of the day.
