Seat sharing would be sorted out by party high command: Chavan

Differences existing over seat sharing between Congress and NCP in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha polls would be sorted out in the ongoing parleys in Delhi, Chief Minster Ashok Chavan said today.

Speaking to reporters here, Chavan also ruled out possibility of NCP forging an alliance with Shiv Sena by parting ways with its coalition partner Congress in the state.

On the allegation made by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari that the fake stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi had paid him (Chavan) Rs ten lakhs, the Chief Minister said by making such "baseless" charges Gadkari had touched a new low in false propaganda.

Referring to the claim by Gadkari that he had in his possession the tapes in Telgi's voice to prove the allegation, Chavan said, "Why did he not come out with those tapes four years ago and why was he raking up a closed issue when the elections are round the corner"?

On cabinet expansion, the Chief Minister said whatever reservations his ministerial colleagues had over allotment of portfolios would be settled through discussions.

Earlier, addressing a rally of Congress workers in Sangli, Chavan expressed confidence that the principle of secularism which formed the basis of Congress-NCP alliance would not be sacrificed for political gains.