Cong-NCP squabble reaches panel meet

The issues on agenda of the meeting included files not being cleared promptly by ministers of the other party,discriminatory allocation of funds to some departments,violation of coalition dharma and possibilities of pre-poll alliance for the forthcoming civic polls in Kalyan-Dombivali and Kolhapur,apart from eight MLC seats.

Sources said the NCP members told the meeting that files submitted by them were not cleared promptly if they pertained to portfolios held by the Congress ministers.

The Congress members,in turn,claimed that the NCP had grabbed power in the Sangli civic body by forming an alliance with parties like the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

They also pointed out that some NCP ministers like Ajit Pawar got funds for their departments whenever they wanted,while Finance Minister and his protégé Sunil Tatkare kept on keeping their proposals on hold citing a financial crunch.

The meeting did not reach any consensus on forming a pre-poll alliance for MLC and civic polls. However,it agreed that the bickerings had tarnished the image of the government. It also decided to make joint efforts to implement the poll agenda of the coalition government.

The committee comprises five NCP leaders (Bhujbal,Ajit Pawar,R R Patil,Praful Patel and Madhukar Pichad) and three Congress leaders (Chavan,Manikrao Thakre and Kripashankar Singh).

It was formed after the unprecedented confrontation between Chavan and the NCP ministers at the Cabinet meeting on June 30,when the latter took exception to Congress spokesperson Hussein Dalwai’s remarks that the NCP had triggered the Miraj-Sangli riots and it should be merged with the Congress; the Shiv Sena-BJP wresting power in local elections in Bhandara and Gondia districts (stronghold of NCP leader Praful Patel) and bureaucrats becoming inert.

Cong divided,yet to pick members
The Congress is yet to sort out its internal squabbles and nominate two leaders on the coordination committee. Reason: Chief Minister Ashok Chavan,who is uncomfortable with leaders from rival camps being included,has sent a few names for clearance to the high command and is awaiting its nod.

After the Congress-NCP wrangling on June 30,it was decided to constitute a coordination panel with five members from each party. Though NCP named five leaders,the Congress named only three. Sources said Chavan’s detractors like Narayan Rane and Vilasrao Deshmukh were keen on having a say in the panel. However,Chavan has asked the high command to nominate Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Naseem Khan on the panel.