A Government At Last

Ok. What is the ‘big deal’

Full 15 days after the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party returned to power in Maharashtra, the new government is finally to be instated. After a fortnight-long tough bargaining over portfolio-sharing between two parties, Congress and NCP finalised a deal based on the 1999 formula to form a new government.

Chief Minister-elect Ashok Chavan had indicated on Tuesday that the next government would be in place within two days. NCP leader Praful Patel told reporters in Mumbai that portfolio-sharing will be done on the basis of the 1999 formula. Although media reports indicated that the ministries would be shared in 23-20 ratio with larger chunk going to Congress.

Congress and NCP rode back to power for the third time in a row defeating opposition Shiv Sena-BJP in a mainly four-cornered contest. The Government formation was delayed after declaration of assembly poll results on October 23 due to hard negotiations between Congress and NCP over portfolio-sharing. Irked over the delay, governor S C Jamir had to intervene and urge both the parties to show a sense of urgency to put in place a government.

This is not the first time that this type of delay took place in Maharashtra. In 1999, when the two parties fought separately, there was dilly-dallying by two parties for over a week. In 2004, they fought together but after NCP emerged with more seats, it staken claim to the post of chief minister. Then also the issue was stretched for almost a week before Sharad Pawar finally wrested more and important portfolios from alliance partner Congress. The two parties could so easily take their time because they are sure that opposition parties are in no situation to stake claim to form the government. Meanwhile, various major issues are pending and the new government has an uphill task in the form of load shedding, drought situation and most of all, health situation. Maharashtra is getting some persons to man the ministries, but the million rupees question is: will they deliver?