Mumbai: In a mild disapproval of naming SM Krishna as Maharashtra Governor, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party), the main partner of the ruling coalition, today (Nov 29, 2004) said it would have appreciated if the party was consulted before the appointment.

"We would have appreciated if the NCP was consulted before the Krishna's appointment. However, we will not make it an issue since it involves the high constitutional post of a Governor," Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader R R Patil said.

Interestingly, NCP, which is also a constituent of the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) at the Centre, had recently expressed its resentment over allies being not consulted while appointing Governors by the Union Government.

Meanwhile, MPCC (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Prabha Rau, while speaking with reporters she would not comment on whether NCP was consulted before the appointment of the Governor or also on Shiv Sena's opposition to him (Krishna) in view of his "anti-Maharashtra stance" over the boundary row between the neighbouring States.

Saying that she would welcome Krishna's appointment, Rau said, "The vexed boundary dispute may be resolved by coming together (with Krishna's appointment) of both the States."

To repeated queries on NCP's stance, Rau said "basically, both Congress and NCP belong to same ideology but the parties may differ on certain issues".

Maharashtra has laid claim over Belgaum and adjoining areas, in north Karnataka. A petition by the State regarding the boundary dispute is also pending in the Supreme Court. During his tenure as Karnataka Chief Minister, Krishna had strongly opposed Maharashtra's claim over Belgaum and adjoining areas.