Mumbai:
Their alliance may have given the Congress a majority in Maharashtra, but forming the government together is proving to be tough. The Congress wants 60 per cent of cabinet ministries; it says this is fair because it has 20 MLAs more than Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. But the NCP says unless it can get exactly half of the cabinet berths, it will stay out of the government.
"If they say we don't accept our offer that's fine. We are willing to give them our letter and support them from outside," warns Ajit Pawar, senior NCP leader and Sharad Pawar's nephew.
Senior Congress leaders gathered in Delhi to discuss how to respond to an increasingly aggressive junior partner. More than the numbers, the real fight is over key portfolios.
The NCP wants to repeat the arrangement followed by the alliance after the 2004 state elections. So it wants to keep the portfolios of Home, Finance and PWD, since these traditionally belong with the Deputy Chief Minister, already announced to be Chhagan Bhujbal from the NCP.
But the Congress wants Home and Finance this time, it also wants some key portfolios like Power, held in the last government by the NCP.
"If they say we don't accept our offer that's fine. We are willing to give them our letter and support them from outside," warns Ajit Pawar, senior NCP leader and Sharad Pawar's nephew.
Senior Congress leaders gathered in Delhi to discuss how to respond to an increasingly aggressive junior partner. More than the numbers, the real fight is over key portfolios.
The NCP wants to repeat the arrangement followed by the alliance after the 2004 state elections. So it wants to keep the portfolios of Home, Finance and PWD, since these traditionally belong with the Deputy Chief Minister, already announced to be Chhagan Bhujbal from the NCP.
But the Congress wants Home and Finance this time, it also wants some key portfolios like Power, held in the last government by the NCP.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
