The NCP leader, Mr. Praful Kumar Patel has said that the Congress-NCP government will be formed in Maharashtra soon. Speaking to media, he said that NCP is firmly with the Congress and dismissed reports to the contrary.<br/>He said, both the parties had fought the election together and the differences, if any, will be sorted out. He also said that the Chief Minister will be from the Congress and said that the deadlock over the issue of portfolio allocation will be resolved soon. Mr. Patel said that there is nothing unusual about the delay in this regard.<br/>Earlier, Deputy-chief minister designate of Maharashtra Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal asserted his party's stance for adopting the 1999 power sharing formula. Mr. Bhujbal was addressing a press conference after meeting Maharashtra Governor Mr. S.C. Jamir. He said, till all issues with congress are solved, NCP will give external support to it instead of joining the ministry. He also appealed to congress to follow the 1999 power sharing formula.<br/>Mr. Bhujbal asserted that both NCP and Congress must retain their old departments and accused Congress in delaying the government formation process. Mr. Bhujbhal also said that he informed the governor that their letter of support is ready; it is up to the Congress to take the initiative in forming the government.<br/>Earlier, the governor also met chief minister-designate Ashok Chavan for half-an-hour in an effort to break the impasse that continues 13 days after the assembly results were declared. The tenure of the outgoing Assembly ends today.<br/>AIR correspondent Alpana Pant Sharma reports from Mumbai that the new government in Maharashtra is not in place even after the tenure of 2004 legislative assembly ended today. Deputy-chief minister designate Chhagan Bhujbal reiterated NCP's stance for adopting the 1999 power sharing formula by saying that both the parties must retain their old departments. He also said that till all the issues with congress are not solved NCP will give external support instead of joining the ministry. MPCC president Manikrao Thakre said that talks are on between Congress and NCP and some decision will be taken soon. Meanwhile legal experts are of the view that coalition governments are often given extra time to come to a power sharing agreement.