New Delhi, September 08: Racing against time to firm up seat-sharing for coming assembly polls in Maharashtra, Congress and NCP are likely to begin talks for this in a day or two.
An indication to this effect was given by a senior Congress leader who claimed forward movement on the alliance issue would be seen in a couple of days.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who arrived here after marathon talks with party leaders in Mumbai on poll preparations, said Congress has to take the initiative for the seat-sharing talks.
He told reporters that “instead of wasting time in delaying the issue, let us accept the number (of seats) as last time”.
His statement meant that the two parties should settle for the 2004 poll seat-sharing ratio of 122 for NCP and 166 for Congress.
Pawar said that “in the larger interest of the state, it will be ideal if we contest jointly,” adding attempts are being made in parts of Maharashtra to communalise the atmosphere.
At the same time, he suggested that whatever changes have taken place in the constituencies following the delimitation, state leaders of both the parties should sit together and resolve these issues.
—Agencies