Maha oppn gives Cong-NCP 24 hrs to form govt

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena combine in Maharashtra met Governor S C Jamir on Wednesday and sought imposition of President's rule in the state in case a government is not sworn in within the next 24 hours.

"We told the Governor that even 13 days after the assembly poll results, there is no sign of a government being sworn in. The ruling alliance partners are haggling over plum portfolios, thereby delaying government formation," Sena group leader in assembly, Subhash Desai told media persons at Raj Bhawan.

"We told the Governor that if no ministry is sworn in the next 24 hours, he should recommend to the Centre imposing President's rule in the state," Desai said.

BJP group leader in the assembly, Eknath Khadse said that the tenure of the 11th assembly expired on Tuesday and the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party were still squabbling over portfolios.

"The Congress-NCP leaders are delaying formation of the new government despite the October 22 results giving them the mandate to rule," he said.