'NCP won't be part of govt if Cong not ready for 1999 formula'

Striking a tough posture, Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today made it clear it would not be a part of the new government in Maharashtra if the ruling ally Congress does not follow the 1999 formula of allocation of key home, finance and Power portfolios.

"We feel that the portfolios should be shared as per the arrangement between the two parties in 1999. At that time, Congress held ministries earlier handled by Shiv Sena and NCP, and those handled by BJP in the saffron alliance's government during 1995-99," senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said.

"If the Congress is not ready for the 1999 formula, NCP will not be a part of the new government," Ajit Pawar told reporters and sought 21 portfolios for the NCP and independents supporting it.

Asked about his "disappearance" after election of Chhagan Bhujbal as leader of NCP legislature party yesterday, Ajit Pawar said he had gone to Delhi to meet his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar for "some other work."

"I returned to Mumbai this afternoon and met party leaders here," he said and scotched reports that the post of deputy chief minister would be held in NCP on roatation basis.