Party to join Congress-led Maharashtra govt: NCP leader

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By Shahid K. Abbas Edited by Sandeep Deshmukh/NewsWire18

Even as the tussle goes on unabated between the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party in the newly elected Maharashtra Assembly, NCP general secretary Praful Patel today said the crisis would be "sorted out in a day or two" and his party would "certainly be a part of Congress-led government." "We are working on the 1999 formula. There is nothing new nor there is any new dimension. I'm sure, all issue will be sorted out amicably in a day or two," Patel told reporters hours after his party leaders apprised Maharashtra Governor S. C. Jamir of the party's stand in Mumbai today. Patel's assurance is significant as it contradicts party leader and Maharashtra deputy chief minister-designate Chhagan Bhujbal, who had earlier said in Mumbai today that if the Congress did not agree to the power-sharing formula of 1999, the NCP would offer it "outside support" instead of joining the ministry. Patel also quashed speculations that the NCP was hobnobbing with other parties for installing an alternate non-Congress government in the state. "I want to make it clear that there are no talks with any other party, nor there would be any (in future)," Patel said. He said he had been authorised by party chief Sharad Pawar to carry out talks with the Congress and that the discussion were based on the 1999 formula when the two parties shared power in the state. As per the 1999 formula, the NCP got some of the key portfolios, including home and finance. While in 1999, the Congress had won 20 seats more than the NCP, the latter had secured two seats more than the Congress in 2004.  Copyright NewsWire18. All rights reserved.