Mumbai, Jan 21: NCP, a main partner in the ruling DF coalition in Maharashtra, today indicated that it was not averse to the idea of downsizing the ministry. "If a decision is taken to curtail the number of ministers in the government, then NCP will also follow it", party general secretary Gurunath Kulkarni told reporters here.
Kulkarni's statement assumes significance in the wake of talks that new chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde might opt for a smaller ministry.
Asked about allocation of portfolios to NCP members, he said a decision in this regard would be taken once the party president Sharad Pawar returns from abroad tomorrow night.
To a query about senior NCP legislator Shalinitai Patil's statement that only a Maratha should be made the chief minister of the state, he said the party condemned the statement.
Kulkarni recollected that Pawar had in the past supported non-Maratha chief ministers like A R Antulay, Vasantrao Naik, Sudhakarrao Naik and Marotrao Kannamwar. Bureau Report