M A I N   N E W S

Maharashtra imbroglio continues
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 26
Although the Congress and the NCP appeared close to resolving the Maharashtra imbroglio throughout the day, the much-touted agreement failed to materialise by the end of the day.

Consequently, one more day went by as the Congress and the NCP remained preoccupied with internal meetings and backroom negotiations in an effort to end the 12-day-old stalemate on the power-sharing formula in Maharashtra.

While the NCP is reportedly ready to forgo its claim for the Chief Minister’s post, it would like two Deputy Chief Minister’s posts in addition to the extra ministerial berths and portfolios already offered by the Congress. The talks, however, were deadlocked on this issue as the Congress appeared unwilling to accede to this demand. Congress leader Ahmed Patel formally conveyed his party’s decision to Mr Praful Patel of the NCP.

The two sides also tried to sort out the ticklish issue of portfolio distribution as the NCP had asked for revenue, urban development and cooperatives, which the Congress did not wish to part with.

Even as informal parleys continued throughout the day, NCP interlocutor Praful Patel declared here tonight that their party would take a final decision tomorrow. Senior Congress leaders involved in resolving this crisis also maintained that an agreement was round the corner.

“We will take a final decision tomorrow,” Mr Patel told presspersons tonight emerging from NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s residence, adding that their state leaders would also be involved in this exercise. He also rubbished reports that the NCP was bargaining for a better deal and that it was the Congress which had made the offer to them.

It is learnt that senior Congress leaders, including Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Ahmed Patel, and Mr Arjun Singh, called on, Mr Sharad Pawar, on Sunday night to discuss the Congress party’s offer of three additional ministerial berths and two portfolios.

Meanwhile, incumbent Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who has emerged as the compromise candidate for the top post, is learnt to have spoken to NCP leader Praful Patel to press his case and assured him that he had no objections to the appointment of two deputies.

Although there is a realisation in the two camps that this issue should be resolved at the earliest, the Congress and the NCP are unable to seal the deal having got themselves hopelessly entangled in the nitty-gritty of power-sharing.

The NCP maintains it should be adequately compensated if it is to concede the Chief Minister’s post to the Congress. It has also pointed to its internal compulsions as, Mr Chhaggan Bhujbal, is also a claimant for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post along with Mr Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil.