'PM's clean image helped Cong win'

“We went to people on the plank of development. The vote we got is a positive one,” Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said, crediting Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and ‘clean image’ of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the victory.

“Highlighting positive things of the government we went to people with developmental agenda and, of course, the clean image of the Prime Minister helped us to get votes,” he said.

“The people have voted for the united face of the Congress unlike opposition, which was divided within.”

Appreciating the party’s performance in Vidarbha region, known for farmers’ suicides, Deshmukh said, “Vidarbha farmers helped us and we got five seats in Yavatmal district where several farmer suicides have taken place.

Congress has done well in Marathwada and western Maharashtra also”.

A meeting of newly elected MLAs would be called in two-three days to elect a new leader, MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said.

Replying to a query about ministerial portfolios, Thakre said it would be decided by the Congress and NCP high command.

Reacting to the victory of the party, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said the developmental issues appealed to people and the good work would be continued by the next Government. Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal too expressed satisfaction over the results and said party’s performance had definitely improved compared to the Lok Sabha polls held in May.

Workers’ wish

On the defeat of minister Vijaysingh Mohite Patil from Pandharpur constituency in western Maharashtra, NCP state chief R R Patil said the party workers wanted him to contest polls from there.

PTI

“It was a wish expressed by the party workers though Vijaydada did not want to contest from Pandharpur. His original constituency has been reserved after delimitation,” Patil said.

NCP would convene a meeting of newly elected MLAs within four days to decide its future course of action, he said.