NCP Yet To Decide Name For Deputy CM's Post, Says Jayant Patil

The Nationalist Congress Party’s Maharashtra unit president Jayant Patil said on Saturday that they have yet not decided who from the party will be the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. As per the power-sharing formula between three alliance partners – Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress – the deputy chief minister's post has come to Sharad Pawar’s party, while the Congress has got the Assembly Speaker's post.

Patil's remark comes at a time when Congress is also pitching for an additional deputy chief minister's post for itself even if that meant letting go of the Assembly Speaker's post to the NCP.

However, sources in the Congress said the party will have to remain content with the Speaker's post as there will now be only one deputy chief minister in the Thackeray government.

"The deputy chief minister will be from the NCP. But Pawar Saheb will decide who will hold that post. That decision is yet to be taken. Why are you in a hurry?" Patil told reporters. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar seconded Patil.

"I will take whatever responsibility the party will give to me," Ajit said when asked if he would like to be the next deputy chief minister.

Meanwhile, party sources said the deputy chief minister's post could go to Ajit Pawar.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister on Thursday along with two ministers each from the Sena, NCP, and Congress.

With PTI Inputs