NCP expects Congress to address its key concerns

NEW DELHI: The Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which is considering withdrawing its ministers from the Union government, expects the coalition leader, Congress, to address some of its key concerns to keep the coalition intact.

A senior NCP leader told ET , ahead of the party's crucial meeting on Monday, that though Congress had given no assurance, it was likely to give in to a few demands. Congress, which shares power with NCP both at the Centre and in Maharashtra, had already signalled its willingness to set up a coordination mechanism to iron out differences within the coalition.

Congress has also assured Pawar that the contentious issue of who occupies the second slot in the government after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh can be resolved by setting up a committee comprising defence minister AK Antony, Pawar and power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, which would officiate in the PM's absence. But the party has ruled out the possibility of replacing Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan, said a Congress leader.

Pawar is believed to be peeved at the possibility of Shinde being made leader of the House in Lok Sabha.