Introduction

The opposition never loses an opportunity to pooh-pooh the ruling party on the sensitive issues of Maharashtra-Mysore border issue. But the seasoned statesman in him does not permit him to agree with the extremist solutions put forward by the opposition and he advises a cautious approach to the problem. Although he is a champion of the maximum autonomy to local self-government bodies he is of the opinion that supersession is the only remedy to the municipalities that tend to go astray. Though he is an ardent advocate of Samyukta Maharashtra he condemns the lawlessness to achieve the goal and hence one finds him defending the measures taken by the Government to establish law and order at the time of the peak of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement in which at a particular time the possibility of complete collapse of law and order situation, could have materialised. Thus as an administrator par excellence we find him often justifying police measures to curb lawlessness at various places in the State, be it bilingual Bombay State or the Unified Maharashtra State. The same administrative perspicacity does not allow him to agree to a proposal to hold Legislative Assembly Sessions at Nagpur and in Gujarat in the bilingual Bombay State. Far-sightedness, spirit of give and take and long term benefits guided him when he made some concessions, here and there at the time of the State's reorganisation. These are reflected in his speech made in reply to the various issues like the Dangs and other matters which were raised by the Opposition.

His plea to the opposition to look at the brighter side of the Home Guards and suggest proposals to revamp the organisation is one more instance of his keenness to tap good resources for the welfare of the State. Similarly his advice to the opposition members not to be panicky by the activities of some anti-national and fissiparous elements because in his opinion if we stand united as a rock no force on earth can break our unity, reflects the dour spirit of the Maratha leader.

He is an advocate of democratic decentralisation and sincerely believes that Gram Panchayats have an important role to play in this respect. Shri Chavan vehemently denied that Government was dormant regarding succour to the victims of the Panshet disaster. He is very scrupulous about the misuse of Government machinery for party purposes during election period and assures opposition members that he has issued instructions to prevent the recurrence of such type of malpractices.

In the matter of Government's advertisements to newspapers he was quick to point out that Government had never patronised any particular newspaper and that he was aware about its responsibility towards the small newspapers.

Shri Chavan favours increase in grants for ameliorating the condition of the Police, but is opposed to trade unionism among the police.

With the formation of united Maharashtra, Shri Chavan consents to holding of Legislative Assembly Sessions once a year at Nagpur, The common denominator of most of the speeches of Shri Chavan on various issues is restraint. Be it a case of firing, lathi-charge on some other controversial issue, Shri Chavan handles them deftly, showering praises on some one or pointing out at some shortcomings, making use of banter, sarcasm and wittiness, which endears him to all, friend or foe. And then comes the hour of glory, the reward of nurturing of the values that he considers most precious, conciliation and understanding.