State
Congress chief
Ashok Chavan has the dubious distinction of leading India’s Grand Old Party to the worst performance in its history. Once a Congress stronghold, the party has been reduced to just one seat in the state and Chavan could not even retain his own in Nanded.
The former chief minister who lost his post in the wake of the Adarsh scam was rehabilitated in 2015 with the post of state party chief.
Yet, despite key issues such as rural distress in the state, he squandered the chance to run anti-government campaigns or build the organization.
Chavan also could not manage rebellions within the party. In a major embarrassment, the party’s leader of the opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil withdrew from the campaign after his son Sujay crossed over to the BJP.
The NCP ran a stronger campaign and won a few more seats, which means it will demand a larger share of seats if the parties ally for the assembly
elections, which are just five months away. The road ahead for the party in the state remains bleak, with morale among the rank and file at a low. Demands for Chavan’s head are sure to be made but the party has slim pickings for an alternative.