It's advantage Chavan in Maharashtra

Mumbai: With 146 MLAs in a 288-seat Assembly and a clear majority, the Congress-NCP combine is all set to form government in Maharashtra for the third consecutive term. And the attention has now shifted to the race for the chief minister's post. At the forefront are two contenders - Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan. And the latter seems to have an edge. (Maharahstra elections: Results)

The battle for the Chief Minister's post in Maharashtra has now come to Delhi, Vilasrao Deshmukh on Friday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

But Ashok Chavan remains the clear favourite. Party leaders say with an absolute majority there is no reason to dislodge him; a formal and final decision will be taken at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Mumbai on Saturday.

Vilasrao Deshmukh is lobbying hard to return to Maharashtra as chief minister even though publicly he claims he is not in the race.

"I am not a chief ministerial contender," said Vilasrao Deshmukh, Congress Leader, Union Heavy Industries Minister.

Deshmukh has played an active role in this election, had led the previous government for four years and is seen as a seasoned politician.

The Deshmukh camp argues that since he was chief minister longer than Ashok Chavan:

• He had a larger share in the party's victory.
• That he enjoys the support of more party MLAs since he had a greater say in distribution of tickets.
• And that he is in a better position to control alliance partner NCP which has performed better than it did in the Lok Sabha polls.
  

On the downside, his governance was seen as lacklustre. And his forced exit from the chief minister's post for a rather crude display of terror tourism inside the Taj Hotel post-26/11, is fresh in the mind.

Compare this to Ashok Chavan. He has been chief minister for less than a year and is considered as a bit of a political novice. But he has ably led the party to victory and the clear mandate has given him an edge. Also, he seems to be in favour in New Delhi.

Ashok Chavan: Frontrunner

• The party was not happy with Deshmukh's performance as chief minister
• Though less seasoned, Chavan has the advantage of being a new non-controversial face
• Took charge at a difficult time - after 26/11 - and led the party to a victory
  

"Both Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh have congratulated me," said Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, who is the Union Heavy industries Minister, said: ''So far as Ashok Chavan is concerned, hardly he got six months to act as a Chief Minister because of two elections, Code of Conduct...so he got very little period and it is very difficult to judge a person within this six months' performance.''

That may well be, but Chavan has already received a call from the party high command in Delhi. Already, his supporters are rallying around.

Senior Congress leader and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde says: "We (Shinde and Deshmukh) are happy at the Centre. I create power. He creates heavy machinery.''

Chavan's confidence is evident in his body language. It's clear even when surrounded by his rivals he expects no surprises.