Chavan meets governor, stakes claim to form govt

Chief Minister designate Ashok Chavan today met governor S C Jamir and staked claim to form the next government, 15 days after the Congress-NCP haggled over the portfolio issue.

Chavan, accompanied by NCP legislature party leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who will be the deputy chief minister, met Jamir and handed over the letters of support to stake claim.

The Congress-NCP alliance has a combined strength of 144 in the 288-member House, just one short of a simple majority.

Sources said Chavan has claimed support of 170 MLAs, including some independents and a few other MLAs.

The new government is scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow evening, a fortnight after the alliance rode back to power for the third time in a row.

The delay in staking claim was due to NCP making a strong demand for sticking to the 1999 formula, under which Congress would get chief ministership but NCP would get key portfolios like Home, Finance, Power and PWD.

Chavan, who was in Delhi since morning holding discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary in-charge of Maharashtra A K Antony on the composition of the ministry, returned here this evening and drove straight to Raj Bhavan.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Manikrao Thakre, state NCP chief R R Patil, Mumbai Congress president Kripashankar Singh and a few independent MLAs also accompanied Chavan.

Chavan said while 20 ministers from the NCP will be sworn in tomorrow, the number of ministers from the Congress to take oath in the first phase was not yet decided.

The size of the council of ministers cannot exceed 43, including the chief minister.