Accept power sharing formula, else support from outside: NCP

Following a tussle between Congress and NCP over sharing key portfolios, the NCP told the Congress that it was ready to support the government from outside if the former was not ready to accept the 1999 power sharing formula, reports HT Correspondent.

The formation of the government would not be a smooth affair for Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

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Following a tussle between Congress and NCP over sharing key portfolios, the NCP told the Congress that it was ready to support the government from outside if the former was not ready to accept the 1999 power sharing formula.

“We are ready to go back to the 1999 formula when we shared the portfolios and ministers equally. If the Congress does not want to accept the same, let them go to the Governor and form the government,” NCP leader Ajit Pawar said at a press conference on Tuesday.

He said the party was willing to return three portfolios (forest, environment and labour) and four public undertakings that came to the NCP in lieu of chief ministership in 2004. “Beyond that, there is no change in the formula,” Pawar said.

The Congress that won more seats (82) than the NCP (62) wants a larger share of the pie with key departments such as home, finance and energy that are with its alliance partner. The latter is not ready to part with the same.

The NCP has so far not given the letter of support to Chavan which he would need to submit to the Governor while staking claim to form the government. The NCP has taken a stand that it would not hand over the letter unless the power sharing formula was worked out.