Maharashtra assembly elections: If alliance breaks, NCP will be responsible, says Congress

The standoff over the seat-sharing issue between the Congress and the NCP for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls continued on Tuesday, with the NCP remaining firm on its demand for 144 seats and the Congress not willing to accede more than 124 to its ally.

Speaking to the media, MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said, "Both the parties have put forth their proposals. We have come two steps forward and now we expect the NCP to come two step ahead."

He further said, "If we are not able to keep the alliance intact, Congress should not be blamed. We are expecting positive response from NCP."

Making his stand on the seat sharing issue clear, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, "In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections Congress won double the seats than the NCP."

Earlier in the day, Manikrao Thakre, who was present at the Congress-NCP meeting, also said the talks were inconclusive. 

The NCP's core committee chaired by party chief Sharad Pawar had gone into a huddle in Mumbai on Monday, where it reaffirmed that the alliance should continue but insisted on getting a larger share of the state's 288 assembly seats than the 124 offered by Congress.

However, Narayan Rane, the party's assembly poll campaign in-charge said, "Discussion over seat-sharing could not be completed and will be resumed in the evening."

"Differences have been narrowed down, there should be no difficulty in forging a strong alliance," Majeed Memon of the NCP said.

“The Congress party is willing to give us 124 seats, which our party is not willing to accept. Our delegation will reiterate our stand of equal seats to the Congress leadership tomorrow. They should re-consider our demand," Patel added.

Mentioning that an ultimatum was not given by the NCP but by the Election Commission, Patel said, “NCP is the only party which was consistently in alliance with the Congress for 15 years in the state and 10 years at the Centre and a positive decision is expected in Tuesday's meeting.” Stating that if anyone accused NCP of having a separate agenda, they could also do the same, Patel said, “We also want to grow. Why shouldn't a party aspire to grow?” 

NCP had contested 114 seats and Congress 174 in the 2009 assembly elections and has been insisting on fielding candidates in half of the 288 seats, citing it had double the number of Lok Sabha seats in the state than Congress. In the worst-ever performance for the ruling alliance, NCP had won 4 Lok Sabha seats against Congress.

Also read: Alliance partners unhappy with BJP-Sena row; want immediate decision on seat sharing

The NCP had earlier given a one day ultimatum to the Congress to finalise the seat sharing deal.

The stalemate between the Congress and NCP over seat sharing was continuing as the latter is not willing to contest in less than 136 seats. The Congress has reportedly offered only 125 seats to its ally keeping the rest of the seats with itself to contest in the upcoming state assembly polls.

Also read: Ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls, NCP minister Sanjay Savkare and MLA Kisan Kathore join BJP

During the 2009 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress had contested in 174 seats while the NCP had fought in 114 seats.

The polling for 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra is scheduled to be held on October 15. The counting of votes will take place on October 19.

After the Congress-NCP meeting today, core committees of both parties will meet again in the afternoon. 

Also read: Maharashtra polls: Narayan Rane backs tie-up with NCP, says first Congress list on September 25