Maharashtra polls: Talks on with high command on NCP's demand for CM post, says Narayan Rane

Congress' campaign committee chief for Maharashtra Assembly polls Narayan Rane on Wednesday said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was in discussion with the party high command over NCP's demand for rotational chief ministership and a decision on the alliance would be taken this evening.

Rane, also state's Industries Minister, said there would be no more meetings with NCP leaders on seat-sharing. "High Command's views are being sought on the latest NCP demand and a decision will be communicated later today," he said when asked about the status of the Congress-NCP talks.

Reiterating that Congress was prepared to spare 124 seats for NCP, he said, "If the alliance does not materialise, we are ready to contest all the 288 seats. But Congress is in favour of continuing the alliance." There have been no talks between the leaders of the two parties since their meeting last morning where Congress offered NCP 124 seats, ten more than it had contested in the last elections.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has left for his hometown Karad, from where he intends to contest the Assembly poll, and is scheduled to return here tomorrow. State Congress chief Manikrao Thakre stayed put at Tilak Bhavan, the state party headquarters, meeting office bearers and party workers.

Rane, who was closely involved in talks with Sharad Pawar's party to break the logjam over sharing of seats for the October 15 polls, had yesterday said NCP had sought Chief Minister's post for half of the 5-year term if the alliance retained power.