With the winning allies still groping, Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir today stepped in to inject a sense of urgency in government formation as NCP made it clear that it will be a part of the Congress-led coalition.

As NCP Legislature Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal gave a new twist saying the party would support a Congress government from outside, Union Minister Praful Patel came out with the party's "official" stand that there was no question of being outside the government.

With the tenure of the outgoing assembly ending today, Jamir held separate meetings with Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Bhujbal to enquire about the government formation exercise.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai after the meeting, Bhujbal said "the Congress should take the initiative to form the government. We are ready to give them external support but will join the ministry with honour after portfolio-sharing issues are resolved."

However, Patel said NCP had told the Governor that it was the responsibility of the Congress-NCP alliance to form government in the state as soon as possible.

Since Congress was the bigger party in the alliance, it would nominate the Chief Minister and NCP would cooperate fully in that regard, Patel said.

"A day or two delay is not a problem. It is better to have an agenda which is laid out and spelt out clearly which forms the basis of a good five-year (tenure). I do not see a day or two here and there as a major issue," Patel said.

"There are no two opinions on whether or not NCP wants to be part of the government. Definitely, we will be part of the government and informal talks are going on," he said.

He said the discussions on government formation in Maharashtra were on between the state leaders of the two parties. "A final decision would be reached at after high-level talks between leaders of the two allies."

Patel maintained his party was ready to give a letter to the Governor extending support to Congress if it was the "only issue in government formation."

He said NCP had proposed continuance of the 1999 power-sharing arrangement between the two parties under which Congress had the post of the Chief Minister while NCP held the post of Deputy Chief Minister in addition to key portfolios like Home, Finance, Power and PWD.

Congress is keen on changing the power-sharing arrangement this time and is pressing for some major portfolios.

However, Patel said the differences between the two parties were "not irreconcilable" and outstanding issues would be resolved through "high-level talks."

Patel said he was unable to hold talks with Central leaders of Congress as he was in Istanbul for two days on an official visit.

Talks are on with Congress and issues will be sorted out "amicably and to the satisfaction of all", he said, adding what he was saying is "official" stand of the party.

Patel dismissed suggestions of a Constitutional crisis in the state if a new government was not in place by tomorrow and said that in the past also such exercises had lasted over two weeks.

Assembly election results were announced on October 22, but the new government is yet to be sworn in. The tenure of the 11th Assembly ends today. The 12th Assembly was constituted on October 23.

Congress sought to justify the delay in ministry formation in Maharashtra suggesting that threadbare discussions were on between the two parties to ensure that no problem crops up after the government is in place.

Asked whether NCP chief Sharad Pawar would meet Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi to sort out the vexed issue, Patel said he did not feel there was a need for top leaders to get into this.

Meanwhile, sources said that the government formation in Maharashtra could see a minor tweaking to the 1999 power sharing arrangement between the Congress and the NCP.

However, they ruled out any possibility Congress and NCP swapping key portfolios or even splitting of key ministries.