Mumbai: Hitting back at Narayan Rane, outgoing Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh Saturday said the former Shiv Sena leader had joined Congress only to become CM.
Deshmukh, in a statement, said Rane's allegations against him smack of ideological bankruptcy. "The comments are uncultured and shows his frustration," Deshmukh said.
He said Rane's sole intention behind joining the Congress was to become the Chief Minister and he was "frustrated" as his aim remained unfulfilled.
The Congress Saturday suspended Rane for his outburst against the party President Sonia Gandhi and a number of others after losing the chief ministerial race.
Rane, who joined Congress in 2005 after three decades in Shiv Sena, had ridiculed both Chief Minister designate Ashok Chavan and Deshmukh and remarked "I don't trust even Sonia Gandhi anymore."
Deshmukh who visited Chaityabhoomi in the morning to pay respects to Dr B R Ambedkar, attended a programme in the Congress office in Central Mumbai and met legislators who called on him at Varsha.
Meanwhile, Chavan was at Sahaydri, the state government guest house, since morning to discuss probable names to be included in his ministry. He held talks with several legislators.
