NCP chief Sharad Pawar is not in favour of a split. Press Trust of India
The alliance between the Congress and NCP has apparently got shakier. Sources in the NCP said unless the Congress responds to their demand by tonight, the party would push ahead with "Plan B" - going it alone in the Maharashtra polls.
The rift between the two parties has reportedly grown wider following the NCP's latest demand - rotation of the chief minister's post if the alliance comes to power. As for the seats, the party is ready to settle for 135 - scaling down from 144.
Though the Congress said its Central leadership will take the final call, state leaders have already dubbed the demand "unreasonable". The state party is not willing to offer NCP anything more than 124 seats.
The rotation twist was introduced by Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and nephew of party chief Sharad Pawar. While Pawar Senior has not been in favour of a split, Mr Ajit Pawar believes the party should explore new avenues.(Read:
Want Alliance With Congress to Continue But Prepared for Divorce, Say NCP Sources)
A faction in Congress alleges it is a deliberate strategy of the Pawars to blow hot and blow cold. Others feel there has been a genuine rift between the two over the continuation of the alliance and the post of the chief minister.
There has been a speculation that the road may even lead to the BJP in case it parts company with Sena. "There is a suspicion that the NCP is talking to the BJP," admitted a source in the Congress.
At best, the party can give NCP 126 seats - twelve more than the last time, he said. Of these, only eight have been identified.
With time running out for the filing of nominations - the last date is September 27 - negotiations have turned bitter and tense.
The Congress is also planning for a life after a possible split. "We are discussing names for all seats in case the alliance does not work out. We are not waiting for the NCP but talking to them," chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has told NDTV.(Read:
Prithviraj Chavan Snubs Sharad Pawar's NCP Over 'Ultimatum')
The party has already made it clear that it would not be responsible for the break-up. "We hope the NCP will accept our proposal. We will not be responsible for any (possible) break up (of the alliance)," state Congress leader President Manikrao Thakre told the Press Trust of India on Tuesday.