New Delhi: The issue of Maharashtra Chief Ministership is unlikely to be resolved before Dussehera as both the Congress and the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) stuck to their position over their claim to the top post in the State.

Both the sides are sticking to their stand and a decision is unlikely before October 23 as Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee, leading the talks on behalf of the Congress, will be in West Bengal for Dussehera festivities, a leader closely associated with the negotiations said.

The numbers game between the two pre-poll allies continued with both the Congress and NCP claiming the Chief Ministership in Maharashtra citing more support.

Alliance sources said that the talks were postponed as both sides felt that they would be futile if held now as neither side had shown any flexibility on the key issue of heading the Government.

Senior leaders, including Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Union Minster Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC (All India Congress Committee) leaders Margaret Alva and Ahmed Patel, MPCC (Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Prabha Rau and Mumbai Congress chief Gurudas Kamat, deliberated over the issue at Mukherjee's residence last night (Oct 19, 2004).

NCP chief Sharad Pawar was also closeted with his party colleague Praful Patel, who has been participating in the talks with the Congress.

The NCP chief had made it clear that his party would extend outside support to the Congress if it was denied the top job.

After the October 13 Assembly polls, NCP, with 71 MLAs, emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra, while the Congress won 69.