A new government in Maharashtra is expected to be in place on Saturday with Congress and NCP tonight breaking the 14-day deadlock over portfolio allocation. Defence Minister A K Antony, who is in-charge of party affairs in Maharashtra, said this after a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He said, the negotiations with NCP for government formation are over and everything has been settled. The meeting with Mrs Gandhi took place a day after NCP gave its proposals for government formation and Chief Minister Ashok Chavan indicated that the next government would be in place within two days. Congress and NCP leaders sidestepped questions as to when the swearing in would take place but alliance sources said Saturday could be the day for government formation.<br/>While both sides were tight-lipped about the size of the ministry and their share, the talk in ruling circles was that NCP could swear in 20 ministers in one lot, while Congress could keep some berths vacant for the time being.<br/>

A new government in Maharashtra is expected to be in place on Saturday with Congress and NCP tonight breaking the 14-day deadlock over portfolio allocation. Defence Minister A K Antony, who is in-charge of party affairs in Maharashtra, said this after a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He said, the negotiations with NCP for government formation are over and everything has been settled. The meeting with Mrs Gandhi took place a day after NCP gave its proposals for government formation and Chief Minister Ashok Chavan indicated that the next government would be in place within two days. Congress and NCP leaders sidestepped questions as to when the swearing in would take place but alliance sources said Saturday could be the day for government formation.<br/>While both sides were tight-lipped about the size of the ministry and their share, the talk in ruling circles was that NCP could swear in 20 ministers in one lot, while Congress could keep some berths vacant for the time being.<br/>