Have forgotten Rane's personal comments against me: Chavan

Mumbai, Aug 6: Welcoming Narayan Rane's decision to withdraw his resignation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said he has "forgotten" the personal remarks made by the senior Congress leader against him a few days ago.

"I think that whatever happened, whatever was said, must have been with certain emotions. I have forgotten it. I think even Congress workers will forget it and we will move ahead," Chavan said.

After resigning from the state government on July 21, Rane had criticised the Chief minister for "slow decision-making, lack of control over the administration" and other issues which affected the Congress' showing in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Rane, who joined Congress in 2005 after quitting the Shiv Sena, had said the Congress leadership had reneged on the promise to make him Chief Minister within six months of joining the party. He announced yesterday that he was withdrawing the resignation and would campaign actively for Congress in the Assembly elections due in October.

"The Lok Sabha poll results were unexpected, specially in Sindhudurg (where Rane's son lost his bid to retain the seat). It was shocking for Rane and all of us," Chavan said in a television interview.

"It is not easy for anyone to recover from such a shock. That's why, out of desperation, he sent in his resignation letter to me when the results were being announced," he said.

"I later told Rane when he came to meet me that I won't accept your resignation as you are under stress. He was annoyed and was analysing who helped and who did not (in the Sindhudurg poll campaign)," the Chief Minister said.

"After some days -- may be he met some people in between -- he again came to me and handed over another resignation letter. We had a lengthy talk. I told him I will convey his feelings to the Congress leadership," he said.

"In the meanwhile, I feel he must have thought seriously about (his) future and accordingly has decided to withdraw the resignation. I welcome that," Chavan said.

Rane yesterday withdrew his resignation as minister, terming his decision as an "adjustment" after being assured he will be given "due respect".

A fortnight ago, he had resigned from the Cabinet slamming the Congress leadership and claiming the party's prospects under Chavan were bleak.

PTI