Cong must go solo in Maharashtra: Deshmukh

He said the party workers are bitter about alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party, whose projection of Sharad Pawar as Prime Minister had hurt the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections.

Making it clear that it was his personal opinion that Congress should go it alone in the state elections that are due in October, he said though the final decision was with the High Command "I have every right to say (my opinion)."

The Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises was responding to a query relating to Congress General Secretary Janardhan Pujary's advice that no individual opinion should be voiced on the issue of Maharashtra.

"I have my consistent opinion. I have not changed my opinion but I am trying to convince them (high command). After this it is up to the high command," the senior party leader from Maharashtra told PTI.

Stating that the two parties had fought against each other in a number of civic, local and other elections, Deshmukh said, "Bitterness in the minds of the workers is too much. We had asked them to come together and unite (for the Lok Sabha polls)."