Mumbai: Sticking to its stand, the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) today (Oct 25, 2004) reiterated that it has not given up its claim for Chief Ministership of Maharashtra.

"We have not given up our claim for the post of Chief Minister," NCP spokesman Vasant Chavan told reporters in Mumbai after the party's legislature party meeting.

The legislature party meeting was called to deliberate over the Congress' proposal of two more portfolios and three additional ministerial berths to resolve the deadlock over the coveted post.

Chavan, however, said the MLAs refused to discuss the proposal saying in the legislature party meeting on October 18 they had passed a resolution authorising the party president Sharad Pawar to take a decision in this regard.

Asked about NCP's stand on the Congress proposal, Chavan said, "We have received a proposal from Congress after a period of eight days, our party needs 1-2 days to formulate its stand over it."

The newly elected legislators of NCP have again passed a resolution authorising Pawar to take decision regarding formation of the new Government in Maharashtra and the row over Chief Ministership with Congress, Chavan added.

Maharashtra unit leaders of the NCP will leave for New Delhi shortly to discuss the prevailing political situation with the party high command, the spokesman said.

The meeting, besides discussing the issue of delimitation, also decided to hold a two-day workshop for its elected representatives about legislature functioning.