``We will field candidates who have bright chances of winning the elections. This will certainly improve our performance compared to the last elections,'' a senior Shiv Sena leader said. In the last elections, the Sena-BJP alliance had won 10 out of the 48 seats, while the Congress had secured 33 seats, RPI won four and PWP one seat.

Veteran Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, who was unceremoniously removed from chief minister's post, is likely to be alliance nominee from the Mumbai North-Central parliamentary constituency. In the last elections, senior Republican Party leader Ramdas Athavale, who was supported by the Congress, was elected by defeating Sena nominee Narayan Athavale. Since Sena is reconsidering his candidature, Athavale is unlikely to seeknomination.

``Joshi has already given his consent to contest for the Lok Sabha elections. Now it is for Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray to take a final decision,'' the Sena leader added.

In South Mumbai, if Jaywanti Mehta, who lost to Murli Deora, declines to contest, then the alliance is considering to field Minister of State for Housing and Special Assistance Raj Purohit. In textile workers dominated South Central Mumbai, if the Shiv Sena refuses nomination to sitting member Mohan Rawale, then he will be replaced by Minister of State for Home Bala Nandgaonkar.

High profile Housing Minister Sureshdada Jain has sought party nomination from Jalgaon parliamentary constituency. As per the agreement between the alliance partners, Jalgaon seat has been allotted to BJP. However, since the BJP lost the last election to Congress nominee Ulhas Patil, it has agreed to transfer the seat to Shiv Sena. ``As Jain is keen on contesting, I think there should be no objection from the BJP. In fact, Jain has alreadystarted preparing for the elections,'' a BJP Minister said. For more than two decades, Jain was associated with the Congress. Subsequently, he resigned and joined the Shiv Sena and was elected to the assembly in a by-election.

Excise Minister Prakash Mehta is likely to be a nominee of the BJP from the North East constituency. In the last elections, senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan lost to Congress nominee Gurudas Kamat. Subsequently, Mahajan was elected to the Rajya Sabha. ``Though no final decision has been taken, it will be either Mehta or Kirit Somiayya,'' the Minister added.

Health Minister Daulatrao Aher is being considered for nomination from Nasik, his home town, while Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari is likely to be nominated from Nagpur. In the last elections, BJP's Ramesh Mantri was badly mauled in Nagpur by Congress candidate Vilas Muttemwar. ``We are unable to find a senior candidate, who will be able to wrest the seat from the Congress. If Gadkari agrees, it will be better for the alliancesince he has chances of winning,'' the Minister pointed out.

Even in Aurangabad in the Marathwada region, the alliance is looking for a potential winner. According to a senior Shiv Sena leader, since the party is in no mood to offer seat to Pradeep Jaiswal, Forest and Environment Minister Chandrakant Khaire is the likely choice, while Minister of State for Horticulture Harshavardhan Patil is likely to be nominated from Baramati against senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar. Patil was elected to the assembly from Indapur as an Independent candidate. Subsequently, he was inducted into the Cabinet. ``If the alliance decides to nominate him, he will have to join either the Shiv Sena or the BJP. We will not support him as an independent candidate,'' a Shiv Sena Minister said.

Another cabinet member, who has been asked to be prepared for the Lok Sabha elections is Industries and Law and Judiciary Minister Leeladhar Dake, who is also the guardian Minister of Raigad district. ``If the alliance finally decides, thenhe will be fielded from Colaba constituency against senior Congress leader A R Antulay,'' the Minister added.