Congress, NCP end deadlock over power sharing

Mumbai/New Delhi, Nov 5 : The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) finally broke their deadlock over power sharing in Maharashtra Thursday, paving the way for a new government by the weekend.

According to a formula finalized after days of intense discussions, the Congress will get 22 ministries as compared to NCP's 20, said NCP spokesman D.P. Tripathi.

"The NCP will retain home, finance and power portfolios while negotiations are continuing on some other portfolios," Tripathi told IANS.

The negotiations between the two parties ended after one final meeting between NCP leader and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel and Chief Minister-elect Ashok Chavan.

This evening, the Congress also completed its final crucial meeting at 10, Janpath - the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Emerging from the meeting, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said: "Our negotiations are over, we have settled everything. The details are being worked out, we shall tell you tomorrow."

The development comes 14 days after assembly results were declared (Oct 22). The Congress emerged as the largest party in the 288-member house securing 82 seats. The NCP came next with 62 seats.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got 46 seats, the Shiv Sena 44, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won 13 seats.

--IANS