Why Prithviraj Chavan met Sonia Gandhi

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday held talks with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue of his election to the state legislative council, which is necessary for his remaining at the helm of affairs in the state.

Chavan met Gandhi soon after his arrival in Ner Delhi and also held talks with her political secretary Ahmed Patel.

Maharashtra MLC Sanjay Dutt, who has expressed his willingness to vacate his seat for the chief minister was also present during the meeting with Gandhi.

Dutt has five years and three months left of his tenure in the council while Chavan has four years more in the Rajya Sabha.

Dutt has put no conditions for resigning in favour of Chavan.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Manikrao Thakre has met central leaders over the last two days and has reportedly talked to them about the willingess of nine MLCs, who were ready to resign to make way for the chief minister to become a member of the legislative council.

Chavan arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening in the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh virtually blaming him for omitting to mention the charge-sheeting of P J Thomas during

 the appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner.

Highly placed party sources, however, dismissed speculation that Chavan has been summoned by the top leadership in the wake of the observations by the prime minister.

The sources said Chavan is in New Delhi for consultations on the issue of his becoming an MLC within six months of his taking over as chief minister.

Chavan was made chief minister over three months back replacing Ashok Chavan in the wake of the Adarsh Housing Scam and a decision on his becoming an MLC needed to be taken fast.