Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today (Oct 20, 2004) indicated that the tussle over the Maharashtra's Chief Ministership was unlikely to be resolved before Dussehra.

"We are expecting a decision in this regard only after Dussehra," senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar told reporters in Mumbai. Ajit, nephew of NCP president Sharad Pawar and whose name is being doing rounds in the political circles as the next Chief Minister, said, "The State NCP leaders will accept what ever decision is taken by our party president in the matter."

Besides Ajit, names of NCP State unit chief R R Patil, former deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil are being taken for the coveted post.

NCP, which has emerged as the single largest party with 71 seats, has secured support of six independents and four-member Jan Surajya Shakti.

The CPM, which has three members in the newly-constituted house, has already steered clear of the controversy over the Chief Minister's post.