New Delhi/Mumbai:
The Congress and the NCP could well have managed a majority in Maharashtra, but forming the government will clearly not be easy.
The Congress, with 20 more MLAs than the NCP, wants a 60-40 sharing of cabinet berths. The NCP wants a 50-50 sharing and is in no mood to give in. Its warning to the Congress is loud and clear - share equally or we stay out of the government.
"Now the Congress has to take a decision. We are willing to give them our letter and support them from outside," says senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar.
As the differences grew stronger, senior Congress leaders gathered in Delhi to respond to an increasingly aggressive junior partner.
The NCP was quick to remind the Congress of its 1999 formula, but quite clearly the Congress seems to be in no hurry.
In 2004, the Congress gave the NCP more portfolios in exchange for keeping the Chief Minister's post, so the NCP got 24 and the Congress got 18.
This time the Congress says they want to reverse it - 18 to the NCP and 24 to the Congress. But the NCP wants to divide the portfolios 50-50, like they did in 1999, when they got 20, and the Congress got 22.
But more than the numbers, the real fight is over key portfolios. The NCP says they want to keep the portfolios of Home, Finance and PWD, since they stay with the Deputy Chief Minister. The Congress wants Home and Finance this time. Also, they may want other NCP portfolios like Power.
If both parties stick their ground, the final decision may well land up with the high command of both parties.
The Congress, with 20 more MLAs than the NCP, wants a 60-40 sharing of cabinet berths. The NCP wants a 50-50 sharing and is in no mood to give in. Its warning to the Congress is loud and clear - share equally or we stay out of the government.
"Now the Congress has to take a decision. We are willing to give them our letter and support them from outside," says senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar.
As the differences grew stronger, senior Congress leaders gathered in Delhi to respond to an increasingly aggressive junior partner.
The NCP was quick to remind the Congress of its 1999 formula, but quite clearly the Congress seems to be in no hurry.
In 2004, the Congress gave the NCP more portfolios in exchange for keeping the Chief Minister's post, so the NCP got 24 and the Congress got 18.
This time the Congress says they want to reverse it - 18 to the NCP and 24 to the Congress. But the NCP wants to divide the portfolios 50-50, like they did in 1999, when they got 20, and the Congress got 22.
But more than the numbers, the real fight is over key portfolios. The NCP says they want to keep the portfolios of Home, Finance and PWD, since they stay with the Deputy Chief Minister. The Congress wants Home and Finance this time. Also, they may want other NCP portfolios like Power.
If both parties stick their ground, the final decision may well land up with the high command of both parties.
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