New Delhi: The deadlock over Maharashtra Chief Ministership lingered for the tenth day today (Oct 26, 2004) as the meeting NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) national office bearers to deliberate on the Congress offer did not materialise.

"There is no meeting. The situation is as it was yesterday," NCP leader and Union Minister Praful Patel, who is negotiating on behalf the party, told.

The meeting was to be held at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence, but the Agriculture Minister was instead busy at official meetings at Krishi Bhawan.

While there have been reports that the NCP has made a counter-proposal for two Deputy Chief Ministers for the party in lieu of the top post, Patel denied any such demand was made.

Congress, on Sunday (Oct 24, 2004), had offered three additional ministerial berths and two more portfolios to the NCP in exchange of Chief Ministership.

The Congress proposal was promptly described as "not very enthusiastic" by the NCP.

The NCP deferred the decision on the package after its Legislature Party meet in Mumbai yesterday, saying its Maharashtra unit was "not very happy with the proposal."

Talks to decide the Chief Minister in Maharashtra have been deadlocked since the Assembly election results were announced on October 16.

NCP, which emerged as the single largest party in the State, had demanded the top post from alliance partner Congress, which in turn claimed the Chief Ministership citing that it had allotted seats to the CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist), which won three seats in the Assembly.