Mumbai: Bringing Maharashtra's economy back on the rails, tackling the prevailing drought-like situation in parts of the state and countering fundamentalist forces would be uppermost in his list of challenges, Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said on January 18.

"The state is facing financial crisis and to provide immediate succour to the people, short-term planning is needed," Shinde said in his first interaction with journalists after the swearing-in ceremony.

However, "we cannot ignore long-term planning", Shinde, who had presented the state's Budget nine times in a row, said.

Asked how he would cope with the problem, Shinde merely stated that "I am here with an open mind". He also recalled that as a Finance Minister he had introduced zero- based Budget in the past but had discontinued the practice later.

Similarly, providing drinking water to drought-affected people, tackling drought conditions and providing employment in such areas would be uppermost in his mind, Shinde said.

To a query whether the over one-and-half-year time was sufficient for him to achieve his goals, Shinde remarked, "Three months are enough."

PTI