Mumbai: Even as the portfolio-sharing negotiations between the two Democratic Front partners - Congress and NCP - are simultaneously on in Mumbai and New Delhi, once they arrive at a formula, the two parties would individually have to work hard to accommodate senior leaders - and it makes the portfolio allocation as difficult.
More than a dozen senior leaders have to be accommodated in Ashok Chavan’s council of ministers and this becomes a difficult task for both the alliance partners.
NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar, currently the Water Resources Minister, is apparently angry over the Chhagan Bhujbal’s election as the NCP’s legislature party leader. Bhujbal would become the Deputy Chief Minister for the third time.
|
Ajit Pawar, who calls the shots in the party, was interested in this post.
In case the Congress gives up its claim over the Home ministry, Ajit Pawar is one of those who may get this portfolio. Energy is another portfolio that may be considered for him.
However, in case Ajit Pawar is given Home, Jayant Patil, who was earlier Finance Minister and given the home portfolio after the 26/11 attacks, needs to be given a good portfolio.
The current Finance Minister is Dilip Walse-Patil and he too is a senior NCP functionary and would have to be given a key portfolio.
NCP retains Bhujbal as Maharashtra deputy CM
On the other hand, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre and Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh, who had in the past been Minister of State for Home, are keen on this portfolio. Congress is asking for the Home portfolio.
The list of senior leaders in Congress is long. Accommodating Dr Patangrao Kadam and Narayan Rane - both once CM-aspirants is a difficult task.
In the present government, Dr Kadam is Revenue Minister, while Rane is Industries Minister. Both Rane and Dr Kadam would be interested in Revenue portfolio.
On the other hand, Chavan himself would like to keep the Urban Development and Housing Ministry.
But if Revenue goes to loyalist Dr Kadam, Rane may have to be given Urban Development.
Congress wants NCP to surrender Speaker's post
Bhujbal is the present PWD Minister and he may be asked to retain the same portfolio.
Besides this some senior leaders, who have lost the polls, may have to be given ministries. Like Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil (NCP) and Anees Ahmed and Dr Nitin Raut (both Congress).
"There are too may claimants, given the size of the ministry. Ashok Chavan would have to do a balancing act," said a senior Democratic Front leader, who is involved in the seat-sharing talks.
In case the Congress gets the post of Speaker - which was earlier with the NCP, the Sharad Pawar-led party would have to take Babasaheb Kupekar, the current Speaker, into the ministry.
