The irony lies in the fact that the centenary started four months ago. Sources attributed the delay to indecision and internal dissension between the Congress and NCP, and predicted that the centenary celebrations, which usually span the entire duration of the year, could be crammed into three months next year.

The Pioneer: Vasantrao Naik served as chief minister for 11 years and three months — the longest stint by any state chief minister so far — from December 1963 to February 1975. He is remembered for pioneering works such as ushering in the green revolution in the state, starting an employment guaranty scheme, implementing the Tenancy Act and the Cotton Monopoly Procurement Scheme. File pic