A stalemate over portfolios between the Congress and the NCP continues to delay the process of government formation in Maharashtra, more than 10 days after the ruling coalition stormed back to power in the assembly elections.
Apart from home, the Congress wants power, finance, or rural development. The party is also eyeing the assembly speaker's post. The party has also ruled out sticking to the 1999 formula of equal sharing of portfolios.
The ruling combine has time till tomorrow for the new government to be sworn in. The term of the outgoing legislative assembly expires tomorrow and the opposition Shiv Sena-BJP has demanded imposition of president's rule in the state if the new government is not in place.
Shouldn't the newly elected government be dealing with far more weighty issues facing the state? Or is the haggling necessary to make sure the best candidates get the most important portfolios?
