Stalemate over Maharashtra Government formation continues

Mumbai, Nov 4 : The deadlock over government formation in Maharashtra continued on Wednesday even after 13 days of the announcement of results of the 12th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.

State Governor S C Jamir held separate meetings with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal at Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday to discuss the government formation issue.

Bhujbal said his party is ready to give outside support to the Congress in forming the Government, and added that it is the responsibility of the Congress not to keep changing the goal posts on which the alliance was formed a decade ago.

The Congress-NCP alliance won 144 out of the 288 seats in the October 13 State Assembly elections, but both have developed strong differences over the sharing of key portfolios.

The Congress wants the NCP to surrender at least two of five key departments - Home, Finance, Energy, Rural Development and Tribal Development. The NCP is not ready to part with Home, Finance and Energy, but is prepared to exchange the remaining two for urban development and social justice.

--ANI