NCP eyeing Council chairman post, to move no-confidence motion

NCP, the largest party in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, is gearing up for a no- confidence motion against chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh, likely to be filed tomorrow.
"We are trying to garner majority to oust him. If he resigns on his own, well and good. If he doesn't, we will bring (a) no confidence motion," state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare told reporters today.
Deshmuk belongs to Congress. The deputy chairman and the leader of opposition in the Council are from NCP.
When asked if there could be an understanding with Congress whereby Deshmukh offers to resign and Congress gets the post of deputy chairman, Tatkare said, "It is out of question...This can never happen."

When pointed out that his party has 28 members in the Council while 41 members are required to pass the motion, Tatkare said permutations and combinations were being worked out.
However, NCP was not contemplating any deal with the ruling BJP, such as offering it the deputy chairman's post for its support, he said.
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said Deshmukh will not resign. "We will face the no confidence motion when it comes. But the chairman will not resign at any cost," he said.