Date:19/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/19/stories/2004101907521100.htm

National

NCP legislators authorise Pawar to decide

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, OCT. 18. The newly-elected legislators of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met here today and unanimously passed a resolution authorising the party president, Sharad Pawar, to take any decisionon the Chief Minister issue.

The resolution follows the party's claim that it be allowed to lead the Congress-NCP-Republican Party of India coalition government in Maharashtra since it had emerged as the largest party in the alliance after the Assembly elections. The Congress disputes this claim and wants the Chief Minister's post for its candidate.

The NCP's central observer, Tariq Anwar, who was present at the meeting, told a press conference later that the former Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal, moved the resolution and the outgoing Deputy Chief Minister, Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, seconded it. The MLAs were confident that Mr. Pawar's decision would be in the best interests of the party and the State.

The State party president, R.R. Patil, who presided over the meeting, said that five Independents, including his predecessor, Babanrao Pachpute, were also present. Six more independents had conveyed their support to the NCP but were not able to take part in the meeting. The party was also talking to the Jansurajya Shakti (JSS), a newly formed party that has four seats.

With the support of the Independents, the NCP tally now stands at 83 seats, including 71 of its own and one of the RPI (Athavale). The Congress won 69 seats and claims that three members of the CPI(M) and two Independents supported by it be considered in its tally.

It now seems that both sides will compete to woo the remaining six Independents. The NCP is talking to the JSS only to counter the possibility of these Independents, who originally belonged to the Congress, returning home.