Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane said on Monday he is resigning because he does not want to be a “partner in defeat.”

He said he is resigning from the State Government and not from the party. Once the resignation is accepted he will consider further course of action, he added. “As of now I’m with the party,” he said.

Steps need to be taken by the Congress Government in the State to prevent reversals during the Assembly elections, Rane said.

“I don’t see any move to salvage the situation. Such inaction could result in a further decline in the party’s fortune. I don’t want to be a party to this defeat, therefore I have resigned,” he said.

Rane further said administrative decisions impacting the common man are getting delayed in Maharashtra. The decision-making process has slowed down during Chavan’s leadership, he said.