Mumbai, Nov 16: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar today demanded an additional portfolio in the new government even as the Congress was busy finalising its list of ministers.
"We want 21 ministerial posts for the NCP and 22 for Congress out of a total of 43 berths. We will speak to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on the issue soon," Pawar told reporters here today.
The Congress has 82 MLAs while the Nationalist Congress Party has 62 MLAs in the 288 member House. In the earlier government, the NCP was alloted 20 ministerial posts while Congress had 23 ministers including the Chief Minister's post.
"We had demanded 22 portfolios in 2009 but backed out to facilitate smooth formation of the Government," Pawar said.
However, Congress state president Manikrao Thakre who is currently in Delhi ruled out any change in the last year's formula of 20-23 berths to the NCP and the Congress respectively.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today called on NCP chief Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence and had a closed door meeting for half an hour this evening.
Pawar was discharged this morning from Breach Candy hospital. He was advised complete rest and his aids had said he would not be entertaining visitors. PTI
