Mumbai: The NCP's (Nationalist Congress Party) spectacular performance in Maharashtra Assembly polls has set the ball rolling within the party over staking claim to the coveted post of the Chief Minister.

"Since the party has emerged as the largest among the alliance partners, it was natural for the NCP to stake claim for the post of Chief Minister," senior party leaders said in Mumbai.

Both State unit chief of the NCP R R Patil and former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal did not make any categorical denial and said "Whether to stake claim or not (for Chief Minister's post) will be decided by the party's top leadership)."

Patil, who was in his Tasgaon Assembly constituency, said, "We have not decided anything in this regard and the party will formulate its stance after holding discussion with the top leadership."

Bhujbal, who romped home victorious from Yevla, said that the issue was for the high command to decide.

Patil said the legislature wing of the NCP was slated to meet in a day or two to elect its leader in the new house.

In the DF dispensation, Congress held the post of the Chief Minister since it was the senior ally of the alliance.

In the 1995 assembly, the post of the Chief Minister had gone to the Shiv Sena, which had more seats than its ally, the BJP.