NCP wants 21 of 43 ministerial berths

Government formation in Maharashtra was further delayed on Friday as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) refused to accept anything less than half the ministerial berths in the cabinet.

Government formation in Maharashtra was further delayed on Friday as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) refused to accept anything less than half the ministerial berths in the cabinet.

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The NCP wants the Congress to give it 21 berths in the 43-member council of ministers.

The Congress has not responded to the NCP’s demand yet.

Earlier, the two parties had planned the cabinet would take oath on Sunday and the assembly would be convened later next week to pass the trust vote.

Now, the impasse is expected to continue for a few more days. The Congress high command will discuss the issue with the NCP leadership on the weekend. The swearing-in is now likely to be in the middle of next week.

The Congress wants more ministerial berths because of its swelled numbers after the Assembly polls. The party won 82 seats, 20 more than its ally.

Barring the chief minister’s, there are 42 berths in the state ministry. The NCP also wants to retain important departments such as home, finance, energy and rural development.

“We want distribution (of berths) done as per the 1999 formula that gave us half the share,” said NCP leader Praful Patel.