He became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 25 June 1991. His tenure was notorious for the "severe failure" to control the Bombay riots. The Justice Srikrishna Commission blames the "effete political leadership" of the Congress(I) Government headed by Sudhakarrao Naik and the police force, whose "built-in bias" against Muslims "became more pronounced with murderous attacks on the constabulary and officers." The commission held that Sudhakarrao Naik "failed to act promptly and effectively and give clear-cut directives.".