Under flak, Chavan meets Sonia, PM

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of the political situation in the state in the face of criticism of his government over its "slow" decision-making and the CAG report on land deals.

Sources said Chavan also met the prime minister to apprise him of "developmental" issues relating to the state.

They meeting with Gandhi came against the backdrop of a judicial commission's interim report which said that the land on which controversial Adarsh Society building stands belongs to the state government and was not intended for Kargil war heroes or their relatives.

The report is being seen as a relief to former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde.

Sources said Chavan apprised Gandhi about the political fallout of the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report which said several Maharashtra politicians secured government land at throw-away prices for trusts linked to them and their relatives. The report was tabled in the assembly earlier this week.

The report had lambasted the Maharashata government for favouring the Lavasa Corporation, stating that favouritism to Lavasa led to a massive revenue loss running into crores of rupees.

Chavan has been facing criticism from a section of the party over his style of decision-making.

Union minister of state and South Mumbai MP Milind Deora had earlier this month lamented the slow pace of decision-making in Maharashtra and delays in key projects in Mumbai but had said he believed in chief minister's intent and sincerity.

Chavan's meeting with Gandhi took place at a time when the party leadership is looking for a new state unit chief and a new president for the Mumbai regional Congress committee.

Sources said the party leadership has been getting feedback about the state government's performance and would assess Chavan's suitability to lead the party in the state in the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

Congress is in power in Maharashtra in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).