NCP, Congress deadlock over seat sharing continues

With the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) not budging from its demand, Maharashtra Congress President Manikrao Thakre on Sunday said his party was willing to give its ally a few seats but if it remains "inclined" towards a particular number then things "will not work out".

The state Congress leaders had a meeting at the residence of AICC's Screening Committee Chairman for Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge here.

There are indications that the party has also discussed candidates on 114 other seats, which were contested by NCP in the last elections.

"We want to fight together and we are trying for that. Giving an ultimatum is not right. We have told them the number of seats we are willing to give, but they haven't replied over this so far so they should reply to this. We are ready to leave a few seats according to their proposal but the way they are talking as if they are inclined towards a particular number. But things will not work like this," he told reporters.

NCP leader Praful Patel said his party stands by its original demand for 144 assembly seats. NCP said a meeting of its core committee in Mumbai on Monday will take a final call on the matter.

A meeting of Central Election Committee of Congress is also scheduled on Monday to discuss candidates for assembly polls in both Maharashtra and Haryana.

Sources have also indicated that the first list of party candidates for Maharashtra could come out as early as Monday.