Congress -NCP ends impasse, coordination committees formed resolve issues

New Delhi, July 25 (ANI): Ending the weeklong stalemate over their tumultuous alliance, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday agreed to form coordination committees in Mumbai and New Delhi to resolve differences.

The decision came after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi at Singh's official 7 Race Course residence.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Patel said, "UPA Coordination Committee in Delhi will be headed by Sonia Gandhi; similar committee is to be set up in Maharashtra."

Patel said that he and Pawar discussed all the issues with Dr. Singh and Gandhi and that they have asked for a better coordination in the UPA.

"We discussed need for setting up coordination mechanism in UPA with the Prime Minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. We need better coordination between NCP-Congress in Maharashtra," the Heavy Industries Minister said.

Patel reiterated NCP's association with the UPA till 2014 elections.

"NCP is with the UPA till 2014 elections. NCP is an important part of the government and all NCP ministers will fulfill responsibilities as ministers," he said.

He said there was no ultimatum to the Congress and his party only wanted "better coordination" in the ruling coalition.

"There is no ultimatum. We only want better coordination. A dialogue can solve these issues," Patel added.

According to Patel, the NCP, which runs a coalition government with the Congress in Maharashtra, is not gunning for the removal of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.

"Who would be Maharashtra chief minister is not an issue. That has been decided and it is for the Congress to decide," Patel said.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister said the government was ready to talk to its ally "on any issue" and there was "give and take" in coalition politics.

"We are ready to speak to NCP on any issue that concerns them in coalition politics, there is give and take," Singh had said.

The NCP had threatened to pull out of government, ostensibly upset that it was not being consulted on key policy decisions.

NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was reportedly miffed with the Congress Party for not being considered the UPA's second in command after Pranab Mukherjee's exit from the party. (ANI)