As Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was arrested on Wednesday on charges of fuelling hatred among ethnic groups, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was busy with his son’s wedding preparations in Latur.

Although Mumbai remained largely calm even as additional paramilitary forces were rushed to the city, a section of Congress leaders voiced unhappiness over the absence of Deshmukh from the city.

CM’s failure

“The chief minister is too busy distributing invitation cards for his son’s marriage to look into the state affairs,” complained a senior party leader from Maharashtra, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Party sources say that the CM’s failure to check the tensions and curb sporadic violence since February 3 has irked Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well.