According to sources in the Congress, Chavan might pip others to the post, given the fact that he is acceptable to both the pro and anti-Sharad Pawar camps, although other lobbies are still active including one seeking to reinstate officiating president Ranjit Deshmukh in his job.

Among other contenders are Ashok Chavan, son of former Union Home Minister SB Chavan and former MP Prataprao Bhosale.

Sources in the Congress said that while the ultimate winner could be a dark horse from Vidarbha not quite inimical to Pawar, Prithviraj is emerging as one of the strongest.

Meanwhile, another controversy appears to be brewing over the legitimacy of obtaining the signatures of MLAs on nomination forms without telling them who they were signing up for. This follows Deshmukh'sstatement that the ten MLAs who signed up for Mehta did so on blank papers and at the instance of Pawar. Supporters and detractors of Pawar have called for clarifications on whether the decision was taken by Pawar or Deshmukh, Pichad and Chagan Bhujbal were were also aware of it.

Asked to clarify, Congress spokesperson Vasant Chavan said, ``As far as I know Deshmukh had informed us that the three of them decided to hand over the nomination forms to Arun Mehta when he pleaded that he might not be able to muster the necessary signatures in the short time available. This was, however, on the condition that he did not raid the Congress votes but draws support only from non-Congress MLAs. The decision was later conveyed to Pawar by the trio.''