Heated Argument Between Ashok Chavan & Ajit Pawar Over Portfolio Allocation: Sources

However, on late Thursday night Chavan spoke to media persons and said that the party had conveyed its stand about portfolio allocation to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Mumbai (Maharashtra): A heated argument broke out between Congress leader Ashok Chavan and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in presence of CM Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday. Sources say the discord between the two leaders was over portfolio allocation relating to rural areas. In a meeting yesterday, Ashok Chavan reiterated the Congress’ demand of having rural development and agriculture portfolios under it to which Pawar yet again expressed disapproval. Sources claim Pawar suggested Prithviraj Chavan be part of the ongoing talks leaving Chavan red faced and exiting the room. However, on late Thursday night Chavan spoke to media persons and said that the party had conveyed its stand about portfolio allocation to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. His media interaction came after a meeting of leaders of the ruling coalition of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. The meeting on Thursday night was attended by Chavan, Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, NCP's Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and others, reported PTI. The Congress has got 12 berths in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government. "We gave our proposal to the CM. He will take a call," Chavan said while downplaying reports about resentment in the party over portfolio distribution.