Mumbai/Delhi:
After a fortnight of bickering over ministries, the Congress and the NCP are all set to form the new government in Maharashtra. In the latest development, caretaker chief minister Ashok Chavan is expected to stake claim by this evening. He met Congress party president Sonia Gandhi today.
Earlier on Thursday, the two parties reached an agreement on berth-sharing in the new Cabinet.
Congress leader AK Anthony said that negotiations were over and issues with the NCP had been settled. The Congress will keep 23 ministries including the chief minister's post and the NCP 20.
Even though the Congress won 20 more seats than the NCP in this election, it's the NCP that got the upper hand in this deal. It has got just one less Cabinet berth than it demanded and has retained all its key portfolios.
The NCP has retained key ministries - home, finance and power. It has also retained rural development ministry, which the Congress had really been pushing for. The Congress has got the relatively minor public health portfolio from the NCP.
So the NCP leaders are all smiles. "This is a win-win situation for both parties. There is no compromise," says senior NCP leader Praful Patel.
The deal has upset the NCP baiters in the Congress. The Congress may have been the big brother in the election but it is no longer as big a brother in the government.
Earlier on Thursday, the two parties reached an agreement on berth-sharing in the new Cabinet.
Congress leader AK Anthony said that negotiations were over and issues with the NCP had been settled. The Congress will keep 23 ministries including the chief minister's post and the NCP 20.
Even though the Congress won 20 more seats than the NCP in this election, it's the NCP that got the upper hand in this deal. It has got just one less Cabinet berth than it demanded and has retained all its key portfolios.
The NCP has retained key ministries - home, finance and power. It has also retained rural development ministry, which the Congress had really been pushing for. The Congress has got the relatively minor public health portfolio from the NCP.
So the NCP leaders are all smiles. "This is a win-win situation for both parties. There is no compromise," says senior NCP leader Praful Patel.
The deal has upset the NCP baiters in the Congress. The Congress may have been the big brother in the election but it is no longer as big a brother in the government.
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