Maharashtra set to get new govt tomorrow

Maharashtra is set to get a new government tomorrow as Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and his Deputy Chhagan Bhujbal are expected to take oath of office.

"The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister will take oath tomorrow," highly placed Congress sources said, adding that the Cabinet formation would take place at a later date.

This indicates that the Congress and the NCP which returned to power for the third consecutive term were yet to reach an understanding on the sharing of portfolios.

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 per cent 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.

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.