No drive against CM: Prabha Rau

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, July 16 (UNI) Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Prabha Rau today categorically denied that she has launched any drive against Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, clarifying that her frequent visits to Delhi are to apprise leadership about the functioning of state unit.

The MPCC Chief, who chaired a meeting of party's office bearers from Marathwada region, told reporters that she had understood the wishes of party's office bearers on the decision of forging an alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) during the ensuing elections of local Civic bodies.

However, she said that the outcome of meeting would be conveyed to the party's high commands in Delhi, who would announce a final decision on the same. The MPCC has currently been engaged in talking to office bearers across the state. The party had already held meetings in Konkan, Vidarbha (Amravati) Pune and Marathwada regions and are expected to undertake meetings in the remaining regions such as Nagpur and North Maharashtra soon.

Ms Rau downplayed the recent reported remarks of Revenue Minister Narayan Rane on the role of government and its ally NCP in respect to the reactions of the safforn parties after the desecration of a statue of late Meenatai Thackeray, recently.

Former Maharashtra Minister of state for Home and local MLA Rajendra Darda, District Gurdian Minister Patangrao Kadam, State Agriculture Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Industry Minister Ashok Chavan, Party's observer Bhaskarrao Patil-Khatgaonkar, MLA Dr Kalyan Kale have attended the party's divisional meeting.

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