Cong, NCP still struggling to form govt in Maharashtra

New Delhi, Nov 2 (PTI) Two weeks after the results,
coalition partners Congress party and Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP) were still struggling to put together a government
in India's western state of Maharashtra and discussions
between the two parties are expected to resume in national
capital New Delhi Tuesday.
NCP leaders are expected to be here for discussions with
Congress party leaders on sharing of portfolios over which
both the parties are keen to have the crucial ones like Home,
Finance and Power.
The Congress party, which has won 20 seats more than its
ally NCP, has been demanding a lion's share in the government,
including key portfolios like Home, Finance and Power.
The NCP on the other hand has been insisting on 50 per
cent share of the 42 ministries on offer, including key
portfolios like Home, Finance and Power, which it has held
since 1999 when the two parties first formed government.
Earlier in the day, there were reports that Maharashtra
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and his Deputy Chhagan Bhujbal
were expected to take oath of office Tuesday.
But Congress party sources discounted such a possibility.
"We have no such information," Chavan said.
The delay in government formation had triggered calls by
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse that the
BJP-Shiv Sena opposition alliance will seek imposition of
President's rule in the western state if the new government is
not in place by November three, when the tenure of the present
Assembly expires.
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony, who is incharge of
Congress party affairs in Maharashtra, also said that the
stalemate over portfolios will be sorted out soon. PTI