Mumbai:
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra will elect its deputy chief minister today at a legislative party meeting.
The party leadership seems likely to replace Chhagan Bhujbal, an OBC, with a Maratha leader. Ajit Pawar is being viewed as a possible replacement. But Bhujbal remains a contender.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, senior leaders D P Tripathi, Tariq Anwar and Govindrao Adik have been appointed as observers to oversee the process of electing the NCP leader.
Those in the running include: Chhagan Bhujbal - he is currently the deputy chief minister. His son is an MLA and nephew an MP. He is among the few OBC leaders in the party but has been laying low for the last few years after being named in the Telgi scam. He spent a few years in political hibernation after the Telgi scam but no charges were brought against him.
Ajit Pawar - he is Sharad Pawar's nephew and was the state's water resources minister. He is considered a good administrator.
R R Patil - he is currently the state NCP president. Has earlier served as deputy chief minister and home minister. He was removed as home minister after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Jayant Patil - he was home minister, maintains a low profile. He was a contender for the post in 2004 but was made finance minister instead.
(Assembly polls: Detailed results)