Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears to be favouring senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader, as a possible successor to R R Patil who resigned as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar is `amenable' to having Bhujbal, return as Deputy Chief Minister after nearly five years, sources said.

It was initially mooted that Bhujbal would be made Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jayant Patil would be given the Home portfolio, the sources said.

However, a large section of party legislators have voiced their opposition to the move, saying such an arrangement would dilute the Deputy Chief Minister's post, the sources said.

The legislators pointed out that every incumbent in that post over the last decade has also been entrusted with the Home portfolio simultaneously.

Bhujbal, who currently holds the PWD portfolio, had resigned as Deputy Chief Minister in December 2003 after his supporters attacked a TV channel office here.

NCP is a key partner in the Congress-led Democratic Front Government in the state.

Source : PTI