Trend Guru

Ashok Chavan has been appointed as chief minister of Maharashtra. A formal announcement is likely to be made later tonight.

Chavan takes over from Vilasrao Deshmukh who resigned yesterday in the wake of terrorist attacks last week. Deshmukh also drew widespread criticism after he visited the ravaged Taj Mahal Hotel — one of the sites of the attacks — with actor-son Riteish Deshmukh and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma in tow.

Chavan pipped other contenders Sushil Kumar Shinde, Narayan Rane and Prithviraj Chavan for the top job. He was the industry minister in Vilasrao Deshmukh's cabinet. An MLA from Nanded, Chavan is the son of the late SB Chavan, who was twice Maharashtra's chief minister.