New Delhi:
A day after Congress announced its first list of 118 candidates for the Maharashtra polls, NCP appears to be considering a similar step. Sources in the NCP said a retaliation would be justified, since the senior partner has no time to resolve the seat-sharing issue.
Like the BJP and the Shiv Sena, the state's ruling allies have been locked in a battle over seats and the alliance is hanging by a thread. But neither party appears willing to formally dissolve it yet.
Last night, after two weeks of bickering, pressure and deadlines from the NCP, the Congress announced its first list of candidates. The NCP's latest ultimatum was given a go-by. Sources in the Congress indicated that the party vice president Rahul Gandhi had advised the tough stance. Mr Gandhi, sources said, was unwilling to cede ground to the NCP and wished for an "alliance with dignity".
The state Congress had found the NCP's fresh demands - 135 seats and rotation for the Chief Minister's post in case the alliance comes to power - unreasonable. The party had left the decision to the Central leadership and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was to communicate with the NCP, had gone to hometown Karad from where he is to contest the elections.
Miffed, the NCP now appears determined to announce its own list - and soon. "Prithviraj Chavan has no time to meet us, how long can we wait?" said a source in the party.
On paper, the 118-candidate Congress list, which came three days before the nomination deadline, has left room for negotiations to continue. The party is willing to offer the NCP 124 seats. But the announcement has signalled that the Congress has a "Plan B" ready. "We are discussing names for all seats in case the alliance does not work out," Mr Chavan had told NDTV earlier.
A unilateral declaration of seats on NCP's part too can deal another blow to the already shaky alliance. And though party chief Sharad Pawar had said that he wanted the partnership to continue, his nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is willing to explore new avenues.
Congress sources said for NCP, the road may even lead to the BJP in case it spilts with the Sena - which now looks imminent. "There is a suspicion that the NCP is talking to the BJP," a source in the Congress had said.
Like the BJP and the Shiv Sena, the state's ruling allies have been locked in a battle over seats and the alliance is hanging by a thread. But neither party appears willing to formally dissolve it yet.
Last night, after two weeks of bickering, pressure and deadlines from the NCP, the Congress announced its first list of candidates. The NCP's latest ultimatum was given a go-by. Sources in the Congress indicated that the party vice president Rahul Gandhi had advised the tough stance. Mr Gandhi, sources said, was unwilling to cede ground to the NCP and wished for an "alliance with dignity".
The state Congress had found the NCP's fresh demands - 135 seats and rotation for the Chief Minister's post in case the alliance comes to power - unreasonable. The party had left the decision to the Central leadership and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was to communicate with the NCP, had gone to hometown Karad from where he is to contest the elections.
Miffed, the NCP now appears determined to announce its own list - and soon. "Prithviraj Chavan has no time to meet us, how long can we wait?" said a source in the party.
On paper, the 118-candidate Congress list, which came three days before the nomination deadline, has left room for negotiations to continue. The party is willing to offer the NCP 124 seats. But the announcement has signalled that the Congress has a "Plan B" ready. "We are discussing names for all seats in case the alliance does not work out," Mr Chavan had told NDTV earlier.
A unilateral declaration of seats on NCP's part too can deal another blow to the already shaky alliance. And though party chief Sharad Pawar had said that he wanted the partnership to continue, his nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is willing to explore new avenues.
Congress sources said for NCP, the road may even lead to the BJP in case it spilts with the Sena - which now looks imminent. "There is a suspicion that the NCP is talking to the BJP," a source in the Congress had said.
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