Praful meets Pawar, deadlock over govt formation continues

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel, who is the chief negotiator on behalf of the NCP for government formation with the Congress in Maharashtra, today met party chief Sharad Pawar.

Patel, who was on a two-day trip to Turkey, met Pawar at his residence, sources close to Pawar said.

Patel left for Delhi after meeting Pawar. He will be in Chandigarh tomorrow and then proceed to Delhi in the evening, they said.

The government formation process in the state is deadlocked with NCP demanding equal sharing of portfolios and wanting to stick to the 1999 formula, while Congress which bagged 20 more seats than the NCP wants key posts of home, finance, power and rural development.

Besides, Congress is also eyeing the post of Legislative Assembly speaker.

The two coalition partners who rode back to power for the third consecutive term in the elections, the results of which were declared last week, have broadly agreed to a 22:20 formula, sources said, adding that if the NCP does not part with home, it will have to give power and finance to the bigger ally.

The term of the outgoing assembly ends on November 3. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Manikrao Thakre said the Cong-NCP may stake claim to form the next government tomorrow.