Cong-NCP ministry in Maha to be sworn-in on Saturday

New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) The swearing in of the new Congress
-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ministry in Maharashtra in
west India will take place on Saturday with the end of the
fortnight-long deadlock over government formation in the state
after the assembly elections brought the two parties to power
for the third time in a row.

The Congress will have 23 ministers and NCP 20. While
all NCP ministers are expected to take oath tomorrow, the
Congress ministers would be sworn in two phases.
"We are going to form the new council of ministers
tomorrow. We will be staking claim to form the government
this evening," said a beaming Chief Minister Ashok Chavan
after a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Chavan evaded all questions on who will be included in the
new ministry despite queries whether Rajendra Shekhawat, son
of President of India Pratibha Patil, Mumbai regional Congress
chief Kripa Shankar Singh and Maharashtra PCC chief Manikrao
Thakre would be accommodated.
"I am not going to say who and how many will be taking
oath tomorrow....Portfolios will be decided after swearing
in," was his refrain to all such queries.
Chavan said "this will be 2009 formula" when asked whether
Congress has agreed to NCP's demand for the continuation of
1999 formula of power sharing under which it had got key
portfolios.
He, however, brushed aside questions like what ministries
will be held by Congress and NCP, but made it clear that his
party has not demanded either Rural Development or Tribal
Welfare ministries as reported. (MORE) PTI SPG
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