Against the backdrop of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s demand for an additional portfolio for NCP in the Maharashtra ministry, top leaders of Congress and its ally met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre, city unit president Kripashankar Singh met Pawar along with the deputy chief minister, state NCP chief Madhukar Pichad and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Patel said the swearing-in of ministers would take place on Thursday.

Indicating that the old formula where the Congress had 23 seats and the NCP 20 would stay, he said in the last one year, Congress and NCP had run the government without any hiccups.

“Change in government at this juncture had taken place in certain circumstances and hence there is no need for any other change,” he said.

Patel said there were no differences between the two coalition partners over government formation.

Last week, nine NCP ministers along with Chavan and Ajit Pawar took oath of office and secrecy after Ashok Chavan was asked to step down from Chief Ministership over his alleged involvement in the Adarsh housing scam.

On Tuesday, Ajit Pawar demanded that his party gets an additional portfolio in the ministry.

“Last year, our demand was not met and we backed out to ensure smooth government formation. But, this time we will persist with the demand,” he had said.

However, Congress had ruled out any change in the formula for ministerial allocation. The strength of the state cabinet is 43.