Maharashtra: Sharad Pawar calls NCP meet after Bhujbal, Ashok Chavan tussle over seating

Amid sources suggesting that a heated argument between NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and Congress leader Ashok Chavan over who would occupy a chair close to chief minister’s in Mantralaya broke out on Tuesday, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has called for a party meeting on Wednesday at 5 pm at Mumbai's YB Chavan Centre. Sources tell Republic TV that Pawar has asked all ministers and MLAs to be present in this meeting.

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Tussle over chair

Chavan and Bhujbal, both former deputy CMs, were attending a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. source said that initially Chavan was seated close to CM Uddhav Thackeray when meeting began. Bhujbal later joined meeting and headed straight for chair occupied by Chavan. Bhujbal n allegedly asked Chavan to vacate chair for him to which latter refused. argument escalated and or fellow ministers had to step in to defuse situation, source added.

Ashok Chavan is public works department minister in Maha Vikas Aghadi government while Chhagan Bhujbal holds food and civil supplies department. Both are said to be unhappy over ir respective portfolios.

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Uddhav cabinet meeting

cabinet meeting was discussing ratification of  Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill, which proposes to extend quota to SC/STs in Lok Sabha and state assemblies by ar 10 years. draft of Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari's speech for Wednesday's address to a special one-day session of state legislature was also approved by cabinet.  joint sitting of both Houses passed  resolution for Bill with bipartisan support on Wednesday.

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Maha Vikas Aghadi govt

After NDA allies, Shiv Sena and BJP broke ties over post of CM post-Assembly elections, Sena joined hands with UPA allies NCP and Congress to form a Maha Vikas Aghadi government in vember under CM Uddhav Thackeray. cabinet was expanded on December 31 to accommodate several ministers. Shiv Sena got 13 ministers (10 cabinet, 3 MoS), NCP got 13 ministers (10 cabinet, 3 MoS) while Congress bagged 10 ministers (8 cabinet, 2 MoS). However, it is reported that all three allies have internal rifts brewing over portfolio allocations and those who were left out of cabinet.

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