| 26 seats for Congress and 22 for NCP in Maharashtra |
Joint endeavour: Congress leader and Defence Minister A.K. Antony with NCP leader and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel at a joint press conference in New Delhi on Monday. —
NEW DELHI: The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday announced that they stitched up an alliance in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha elections. Both sides admitted that there were some loose ends but maintained that these would be tied up in the next couple of days.
As per the agreement, the Congress will contest 26 seats and the NCP in the rest of the 48 constituencies.
The announcement was made by Defence Minister A. K. Antony and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel.
On extension of the deal outside the State, Mr. Patel said the option was being studied, but there was no commitment as of date.
On the irritants in the alliance, both said: “There is a suggestion from both parties for exchanging a few seats. This can be considered and we hope to complete the task in one or two days.” However, neither identified the seats in dispute.
Asked whether there would be friendly fights if an agreement was not reached on the proposed “exchange programme,” Mr. Patel said: “There is no question of either of us contesting the other’s seats. We will support each other fully in all constituencies.”
On the fate of smaller allies like the various incarnates of the Republican Party of India, they said a decision was yet to be taken.
