BY MOHINDER SINGH
The results of the three state Assembly elections – Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh – were announced on October 22.

The Congress Party won elections on its own in Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh and in Maharashtra in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Haryana and Arunachal Congress Assembly parties were quick and prompt in forming the new respective governments. Dorjee Khandu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on October 25, while Bhupinder Singh Hooda was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana on October 26.

Twelve days have passed since the poll results were declared but so far till today – November 2 – a new government has not yet been formed and the new leader of the Maharashtra Congress Assembly party, Ashok Chavan, has not been sworn in as the Chief Minister. The Congress and the NCP alliance have won overwhelming majority by defeating the BJP – Shiv Sena alliance. The Congress Party and the NCP alliance won 144 assembly seats and the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won 90 seats in the 288-member House.

The formation of the new Congress-NCP government has caused unnecessary delay. The reason for the stalemate is the uncompromising greed and lust of both the parties for plum portfolios of Home, Finance and Power. The Congress Party has 82 members and the NCP 62 members in the House. If both parties can’t amicably find an agreement on the proper allocation of portfolios on merit, suitability and fitness, how will they run the government efficiently    , sincerely, honestly and effectively for the good of the common people?

Ashok Chavan and Chhagan Bhujbal will have to be sworn in as the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister respectively before November 3 as the tenure of the present Assembly expires on November 3.