Congress and NCP clinch deal in Maharashtra, Swearing-in Tomorrow

Mumbai: Breaking News! The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) sorted out all their differences and clinched a deal today. The Congress-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra will be sworn-in tomorrow. According to sources, both parties will have 20 ministers each and other formalities will be completed later.

Ashok Chavan will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister for the second time, while Chhagan Bhujbal will become the Deputy Chief Minister for the third time. Congress may hold some key portfolios, including Home, Finance and Rural Development.

The NCP-Congress alliance had won 144 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. Congress has 82 MLAs, while the NCP has 62 MLAs. There was a dispute between both parties over the allocation of ministerial berths and portfolios, which finally sorted out. There was a delay in government formation because of this haggling.