Cong, NCP bat on 99

Agree to 1999 seat-sharing formula to stake claim to form govt today

Agree to 1999 seat-sharing formula to stake claim to form govt today

The deadlock over formation of government in Maharashtra seems to have ended with the Congress-NCP alliance agreeing to the 1999 formula over seat sharing. According to sources, "The NCP has agreed to have 20 ministerial berths in the 42-member Cabinet. The Congress will have 23 ministries, including the chief minister's post."

Defence Minister A K Antony said, "Our negotiations with NCP are over. We've settled everything." The alliance will stake a claim to form government today with governor S C Jamir and the swearing-in will take place tomorrow.

The NCP, however, has bullied the Congress into accepting its terms and conditions. It has managed to secure crucial portfolios like the home and finance ministry, which was the bone of contention. Sources claim both parties may have another round of discussion before the allocation of portfolios. An NCP worker said, "We surrendered portfolios that we had claimed after the 2004 polls."

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