Deshmukh will face action if he contests against Shekhawat: CM Ashok Chavan

Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan today said his ministerial colleague Sunil Deshmukh would face disciplinary action by the party if he contests against Rajendrasingh Shekhawat, son of president Pratibha Patil, in the October 13 assembly election in the state.

"We will try to pursuade him not to contest, but if he does so, he would face disciplinary action by the party," Chavan said.

Deshmukh has been representing the Amravati constituency as a Congress candidate for the last 10 years. He won it in 2004 by over 32,000 votes.

Refuting Deshmukh's insinuation that pressure from the president's husband, Devisingh Shekhawat — a former legislator from Amaravati — led to Rajendrasingh getting the Amaravati ticket, Chavan said "there was no pressure from any quarter. Rajendrasingh approached party as an individual and got the ticket".