The Cong-NCP deadlock continued on Tuesday, even as the BJP-Sena combine managed to come to an agreeable conclusion over sharing of seats in Maharashtra.
NCP’s ambitious proposal of a share of 144 seats and claim on CM’s post for two-and-a-half years has got the Congress thinking. Besides, NCP has demanded that Congress leave 10 seats for it where it had just inducted independent legislators and also proposed exchange of portfolios in the state government if the alliance comes to power.
While Congress campaign chief Narayan Rane confirmed the proposal, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Congress state president Manikrao Thakre remained tight-lipped. Congress apparently outrightly rejected the proposal with Chavan reiterating the party’s offer at 124-125 seats.
“It’s an unrealistic demand by NCP because during the earlier talks there was an indication that it will get its demand down to around 134 to 130 seats. If they make such demands, an alliance is not possible,’’ said a senior Congress leader.
Chavan told HT, “The talks are going on and we hope to arrive at a conclusion soon.’’
