Mumbai: The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have reportedly reached a broad understanding on the portfolio allocation in Maharashtra and a new government
is expected to be sworn in tomorrow. This should put an end to the uncertainty
that has prevailed since the declaration of the results on October 22. NCP's negotiator
Praful Patel said today that both the parties are close to finalising the agreement
and a formal decision would be made. Ahmed Patel from the Congress and Praful
Patel from the NCP were engaged in talks in New Delhi until late Wednesday night
discussing the deal and waiting for the nod from the Congress high command. A
day after Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir issued an ultimatum to the Congress-NCP
combine; Chief Minister-designate Ashok Chavan had stated that a government would
be formed in the state in 48 hours. (ANI) Ends AS NNNN ZCZC ANI 0166(Sports) Sri
Lankan official reviews security arrangements ahead of cricket tour Kanpur, Nov
5(ANI): After the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan earlier this year,
the Sri Lankan Cricket Board is leaving no stones unturned to ensure their team's
safety during the island nation's Test and ODI tour in India starting this month.
A special Security Consultant, Lorence Fernando, has flown to India and is visiting
various States to review the security arrangements in the stadiums where the Sri
Lankan team is scheduled to play. He visited Kanpur on Thursday and expressed
satisfaction at the security arrangements that he has been promised. "I'm visiting
all the district associations, our team is visiting ten states. So, I'm happy
with the arrangements made by the district associations and also by the senior
police officers, in charge. We have discussed the matter at length and I'm sure
they will have very good security here," Fernando said. Earlier in March, six
Sri Lankan cricketers and their British assistant coach were wounded when militants
attacked their bus in Lahore. The Sri Lanka team will arrive in India on November
8 and play tests in Ahmedabad, Kanpur and Mumbai. Rajkot, Visakhapatnam, Cuttack,
Kolkata and Delhi will each host a one-day international, while the Twenty20s
will be played in Nagpur and Mohali.
