New Delhi: Caretaker Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sushil Kumar Shinde met Congress president Sonia Gandhi amid reports that the nine-day deadlock between Congress and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) over Chief Ministership would be resolved today (Oct 25, 2004).

The meeting took place hours before the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in Mumbai to elect its leader.

Shinde is the front-runner for the Chief Minister's post if the NCP agrees to give the top post to Congress following the latter's offer to give Sharad Pawar-led party three additional ministerial berths and two portfolios.

A meeting of the NCP Legislature Party is also slated for this afternoon in Mumbai to ascertain the views of its MLAs on the Congress offer.

The NCP has already announced that it would take a decision on the offer today.