Cong, NCP still struggling to form govt in Maharashtra

Two weeks after the results, coalition partners -- the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party -- were still struggling to put together a government and discussions between the two parties are expected to resume in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NCP leaders are expected to be in New Delhi for discussions with the Congress leaders on sharing of portfolios over which both the parties are keen to have the crucial ones like home, finance and power.

The Congress, which has won 20 seats more than its ally NCP, has been demanding a lion's share in the government, including key portfolios like home, finance and power.

The NCP, on the other hand, has been insisting on 50 percent share of the 42 ministries on offer, including key portfolios like home, finance and power, which it has held since 1999 when the two parties first formed government.

Earlier in the day, there were reports that Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and his Deputy Chhagan Bhujbal were expected to take oath of office on Tuesday.

But Congress sources discounted such a possibility. "We have no such information," Chavan said.

The delay in government formation had triggered calls by BJP leader Eknath Khadse that the BJP-Shiv Sena opposition alliance will seek imposition of President's rule in the state if the new government is not in place by November three, when the tenure of the present Assembly expires.

Defence Minister A K Antony, who is in charge of Congress affairs in Maharashtra, also said that the stalemate over portfolios will be sorted out soon.