File photo: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and NCP chief Sharad Pawar
New Delhi:
Much like the BJP was on Sunday evening, the Congress was in a huddle in Delhi today to assess its options in Maharashtra with partner Nationalist Congress Party or NCP putting it on notice on seat sharing.
Top Congress leaders met at party president Sonia Gandhi's residence; Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also attended the meeting.
Sharad Pawar's NCP insists it wants to contest 144 seats in next month's elections, exactly half the number of seats in the Maharashtra Assembly. Senior partner Congress has said that is a preposterous demand.
"We are discussing names for all the seats in case the alliance does not work out. We are not waiting for the NCP but talking to them. There are no deadlines as we are friends," said Mr Chavan.
The NCP too held a meeting in Mumbai this afternoon, to discuss how long it should wait for the Congress to respond to its 50-50 offer.
"Our party has been told that Congress is willing to give 124 seats which is unacceptable. We are meeting tomorrow morning at 10 am in Mumbai, delegation will be led by party president, Ajit Pawar, Chagan Bhujwal and myself. We will try to convince the Congress leadership. Our demand for higher numbers is very much there," said NCP's Praful Patel.
Sources say while party chief Sharad Pawar is not in favour of a split with the Congress, his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a powerful leader in the party, believes the NCP should explore new avenues.
There is speculation that if the BJP dumps the Sena to contest the state elections, an unshackled NCP might not be averse to joining hands with it in the state. In the run-up to the national elections earlier this year, leaders of the two parties seemed to share warm vibes.
The Congress and the NCP have ruled Maharashtra for the last 15 years. In 2009, the Congress contested 174 seats and the NCP had contested 114. But in this year's national election, in the rout that the partners faced, the NCP won four seats and the Congress two.
Though not significantly greater, it has emboldened the NCP to make specific demands. It wants the Congress to stay away from its strongholds. It is also insistent that the Chief Minister's post be discussed only after the elections - so far the chief minister has always been a Congressmen.
Nominations for the assembly elections close on September 27. Voting will be held on October 15.
Top Congress leaders met at party president Sonia Gandhi's residence; Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also attended the meeting.
Sharad Pawar's NCP insists it wants to contest 144 seats in next month's elections, exactly half the number of seats in the Maharashtra Assembly. Senior partner Congress has said that is a preposterous demand.
"We are discussing names for all the seats in case the alliance does not work out. We are not waiting for the NCP but talking to them. There are no deadlines as we are friends," said Mr Chavan.
The NCP too held a meeting in Mumbai this afternoon, to discuss how long it should wait for the Congress to respond to its 50-50 offer.
"Our party has been told that Congress is willing to give 124 seats which is unacceptable. We are meeting tomorrow morning at 10 am in Mumbai, delegation will be led by party president, Ajit Pawar, Chagan Bhujwal and myself. We will try to convince the Congress leadership. Our demand for higher numbers is very much there," said NCP's Praful Patel.
Sources say while party chief Sharad Pawar is not in favour of a split with the Congress, his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a powerful leader in the party, believes the NCP should explore new avenues.
There is speculation that if the BJP dumps the Sena to contest the state elections, an unshackled NCP might not be averse to joining hands with it in the state. In the run-up to the national elections earlier this year, leaders of the two parties seemed to share warm vibes.
The Congress and the NCP have ruled Maharashtra for the last 15 years. In 2009, the Congress contested 174 seats and the NCP had contested 114. But in this year's national election, in the rout that the partners faced, the NCP won four seats and the Congress two.
Though not significantly greater, it has emboldened the NCP to make specific demands. It wants the Congress to stay away from its strongholds. It is also insistent that the Chief Minister's post be discussed only after the elections - so far the chief minister has always been a Congressmen.
Nominations for the assembly elections close on September 27. Voting will be held on October 15.
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