Deadlock still on, advantage new NCP formula

NCP pointman Praful Patel confirmed that negotiations had spilled over to yet another day. ‘‘We will have one more round of talks,’’ he said, adding that Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had spoken to him over the telephone after the Congress meeting at 10 Janpath.

In fact, Mukherjee’s house was the centre of activity today, with Congress leaders discussing the latest NCP offer. Both parties have 21 ministers each in the ministry headed by Sushilkumar Shinde. But the NCP had demanded the top job, citing the ‘‘1999 formula’’, which stipulated that the bigger partner would lead the coaltion.

Going by the new NCP proposal, the Congress would be left with little more than the chief ministership, and without key portfolios, including Home, Finance, Irrigation, Excise, Rural Development, Energy, Higher Education and Medical Education. The NCP also holds the Assembly speakership.

The sources said two deputy CMs would make it easier for Pawar to accommodate his nephew Ajit Pawar along with Maharashtra NCP chief R.R. Patil. It would also imply the continuation of Shinde, a Dalit, as CM, helping Pawar consolidate his Maratha base with two deputy CMs from the community. For the record, Pawar stuck to his guns maintaining he had made only two proposals—a government led by NCP or a Congress rule supported by his party from outside. He ruled out any meeting between him and Sonia, saying: ‘‘Praful Patel is a competent person’’.