NCP agrees on power sharing in Maha: Patel

NCP has "broadly agreed" with its ally Congress on power sharing in Maharashtra and a new government would be in place in the state shortly, party leader Praful Patel said.

"We have broadly agreed on most of the issues," the NCP General Secretary told reporters last night.

The top NCP leadership held a meeting with party chief Sharad Pawar here last evening, with Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, R R Patil and Jayant Patil attending it among others.

Patel, who was present for the meeting, left midway and held discussions with his Congress interlocutor Ahmad Patel. He later drove back to Pawar's residence and briefed NCP leaders about the deliberations.

The civil aviation minister added he had conveyed NCP's stand to Congress, which is likely to be discussed with Defence Minister A K Antony who is also incharge of Congress' affairs in Maharashtra.

"I am confident that all the issues with Congress would be sorted out,"  Patel said.

Meanwhile, highly placed sources said that 20 ministers each of NCP and Congress are expected to take oath along with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy CM Chaggan Bhujbal.

The assembly election results of the states were declared on October 22 in which the Congress-NCP was voted back to power for a third consecutive term.