Seat deal with Congress in 3-4 days, says Sharad Pawar

MUMBAI: In contrast to the turmoil in the saffron camp, NCP chief Sharad Pawar expressed hope a seat-sharing formula will be worked out in a few days and the Congress-NCP alliance will contest the assembly elections together. The state Congress is yet to respond to its 50:50 share demand.
"We expect a decision on the seat-sharing formula in the next three to four days. Our effort will be to contest the ensuing Assembly elections together,'' Pawar said in Kolhapur.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar echoed his uncle's optimism on a deal, and indicated they would abide by whatever decision is taken. "We had submitted a proposal to contest 144 of the 288 seats, but so far, there is no response from the Congress. We are still insisting on contesting 144 seats, but will abide by the decision taken by senior NCP leaders,'' Ajit said.

A list of 288 NCP candidates is ready, he said, but added they are waiting to see if a seat deal can be thrashed out. "We have identified the candidates and waiting for a final word on the alliance."

As consensus is eluding the Congress-NCP front, senior leaders of both parties expect the row over the formula will be resolved after a meeting between Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi. "We expect the meeting in a day or two, only then will the dispute be settled," said a senior NCP leader.

Not much progress was made after the first meeting between the two on the issue on August 6. Sonia had entrusted negotiations to senior Congress leaders A K Antony and Ahmed Patel. "NCP leaders met Antony and Ahmed Patel, but there was absolutely no discussion on the seat-sharing formula. We were stunned and shocked over their approach," the leader said.

After the Lok Sabha elections drubbing, Pawar Senior was the first to demand more seats. He was followed by Ajit, senior NCP leader Praful Patel and state NCP president Sunil Tatkare. They spoke about going it on their own if they were not given half the 288 seats. The Congress rejected it, saying there will be no change in the seat-sharing formula agreed on in 2009. Then the Congress had contested 174 seats against 114 by NCP. State Congress president Manikrao Thakre made it clear that since there was no change in the political situation, there was no scope for changing the formula. Thakre's contention was strongly supported by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

In Kolhapur, Pawar Senior said the BJP may have swept the general elections, but the situation would be different during the Assembly polls. "We were defeated in the Lok Sabha polls. In my opinion, the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls will have no impact on the Assembly elections," Pawar said.