On his release in 1944 he worked as secretary of the M.P.C.C. and in 1946 was elected to the Legislative Assembly and appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Home Department. Shri Chavan soon made his mark in the Assembly. His peasant upbringing had given him a human touch, a realistic outlook and a knowledge of men and their urges. Frank and open in manner he inspired confidence and trust. He had the look of the soil with deep earnestness in his eyes. Within five years he became a Cabinet Minister and was given the troublesome portfolio of Civil Supplies which called for exercise of strict integrity and impartiality. He had to deal with shortages of food and to administer an elaborate system of controls. He soon realised that curbs and controls were a double-edged weapon and helped in removing them. When the Bombay State was reorganised in 1956 he was elected leader of the party and became Chief Minister.
Chief Minister
The people of Bombay wondered how this youthful Chief Minister would fare. Outside the legislature he was still an unknown quantity. His predecessor, Shri Morarji Desai, had a reputation of firmness verging on rigidity of authority. He had set up ideals of austerity for the citizens and preached them with weariness. It was whispered that Shri Chavan had been trained under him and the same policy and approach to problems would continue. But very soon the conditions changed. The people were agreeably surprised by the cheerful cordiality of atmosphere. They were struck by his informal manner and frankness of expression. He frequently shed his dignity of office and spoke to them as man to man. Above all, he was willing to see the other man's point of view and to appreciate his difficulties. The Opposition members noticed the change and paid him handsome compliments in the Assembly, for they felt that he listened to them and considered their views. Many of them crossed the floor and joined him. A tenuous majority soon swelled into a substantial one and Yeshwantrao had acquired a comfortable saddle. Maharashtra felt that it had a leader who would take it forward.
Shri Yeshwantrao has the gift of making friends even of his bitterest opponents. There is no trace of spite or prejudice in him. He reminds one of a luscious Alphonse Mango, all sweetness without a hard fibre in it. His soft heart has no crust in it.
I had often wondered what the source of his strength was. I discovered that it was his mental attitude to life. Unlike most politicians, he takes his work more seriously than himself. He is completely merged in the work to be done. This gives him a feeling of humility, for he feels that the cause he serves is greater than himself. It also prevents a mood of bitter frustration; having done his best, he leaves the rest to Destiny. In the pursuit of his goal he would seek co-operation even from his bitterest critics. He told a member of the Oppsition: " I shall welcome your co-operation in working for the good of the people because that is what I am here for. Come and help me ".