By IANS,
New Delhi : The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Wednesday indicated it would not yield to pressure from alliance partner Congress in deciding the next Maharashtra chief minister if the party gets more seats in the state assembly election.
“This time, the numbers will decide the chief minister,” NCP general secretary D.P. Tripathi told reporters here.
He said it was in the interest of the coalition that the party sacrificed the top post in 2004.
“Last time, despite having more numbers, we sacrificed the post of chief minister,” Tripathi said.
Out of 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, the Congress had won 69 seats in 2004, while NCP bagged 71.
The two parties have agreed on a 174 (Congress)-114 (NCP) seat share this time as against the 166-122 division in 2004.
Tripathi said Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh’s appointment by the party to coordinate matters with the NCP would “bring all-round victory for the coalition” in the state.