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Go to the masses: Rahul's advice to CM Chavan

Last updated on: July 31, 2012 18:41 IST

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who has been strengthened politically after the Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar and his colleague Praful Patel's attacks on him, had a busy day in New Delhi on Monday.

Chavan met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to the Congress president.

During his long meeting with Rahul, both men exchanged many ideas. Rahul advised Chavan to go to the masses and maintain personal contact with Maharashtra's people.

Chavan is known as a non-corrupt politician, but he is not a mass leader yet. Rahul's advice to him was to keep moving among the people.

Rahul also advised Chavan to avoid intermediaries in politics. Both men discussed in detail, the political situation in Maharashtra.

The NCP is a major coalition partner in Maharashtra's Democratic Front government. The NCP recently withdrew its threat to leave the United Progressive Alliance government in New Delhi after the Congress agreed to set up a coordination committee with its allies at the Centre, and revive the committee in Maharashtra.

The coordination committee at the Centre is likely to meet for the first time this week.

A correspondent in New Delhi