CONG, NCP deadlock ends

Finally the Congress settled the ongoing rift with its key ally the NCP by adopting a cohesive mechanism. A meeting was held between UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel in New Delhi. Patel also added here that they are committed to remain with the Congress till the next general elections in 2014. Media reports earlier said that Pawar was extremely perturbed with the fact that after Pranab Mukherjee resigned from the cabinet to contest the presidential election, Defence Minister A.K. Antony occupied the seat next to the Prime Minister at Cabinet meetings, reserved for the second most senior member of the government.