Maha deal stitched, to be sealed on Thursday

Sparking off speculation that the much-awaited Maharashtra deal is more or less sealed, Shiv Sena strategist Sanjay Raut said that there will be good news soon.

"As soon as the Congress-NCP meeting is over, we will meet Pawar Sahib," said Raut.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi appears to have come around and finally given the green signal to the coalition with Shiv Sena and NCP for government formation in Maharashtra.

Congress leader Prithiviraj Chauhan added ballast by saying that they hope to form the government in Maharashtra soon, adding that certain specifics needed to be thrashed out.

Meanwhile, chief NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik added that only these three parties can form the government in Maharashtra.

Sources said the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) will be finalised on Wednesday and the draft will be given to the Shiv Sena, which will return it after vetting to NCP and Congress.

The formula that is evolving is 4 MLAs to 1 ministry for ministerial bearths. Under the arrangement, the Chief Minister will be from the Shiv Sena and two Deputy Chief Ministers, one each from the NCP and the Congress, which will also claim the post of the Speaker.

The portfolios are yet to be worked out and the main discussion is around the heavyweight portfolios of revenue, home, finance, cooperatives and excise. The Maharashtra cabinet could have a total of 42 ministers plus the Chief Minister, taking the total tally to 43.

( With inputs from IANS )