CM, Rau put up united front on Gandhi Jayanti day

Mumbai, Oct 2 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and State Congress chief Prabha Rau today put up a show of unity asserting that there were no differences between them.

On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, State Congress mouthpiece ''Shidori'' and Prabha Rau's report card as PCC chief during the last three years were released at the party headquarters ''Tilak Bhavan''.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, State Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and senior Congressman and late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's son Anil Shastri were prominent among those present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Rau said some ''intellectuals'' had spread tales about ''differences'' among State-unit leaders. ''I stay at an arms length from such intellectuals,'' she added.

Running a coalition government is more difficult than walking on a tight rope, she said.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh lauded the performance of Ms Rau as State unit chief in the last three years. ''Tai has brought discipline in the party. Narayan Rane and his colleagues came in and took our party to the number one position in legislative assembly and in local bodies,'' he added.

Mr Rane also praised Ms Rau for holding the party together during the last three years.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, while paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi, spoke about the virtues of non-violence. He also said that working in the party was very tough. ''Sometimes, there is financial crunch and despite this, leadership has to take along all groups, leaders, office-bearers, and workers with them,'' he said and added that throughout his political career, he has always worked in the government.

UNI