Next Maha CM will be Sena's, NCP hasn't sought post: Manikrao

The next Maharashtra chief minister will be from the Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has not demanded the top post during state-level meetings on government formation, Congress leader Manikrao Thakare said on Friday.

Sources suggested that the chief ministerial post may go to the Shiv Sena for five years.

Thakare also said that leaders of the three parties will sit together later on Friday to clarify some pending issues and also to decide the time to approach Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stake claim for forming government.

"The chief minister will be from the Shiv Sena...The NCP did not demand the chief minister's post at the state- level meetings. The Congress, too, did not make any such demand," he said.

He made the statement before attending a joint meeting of the Congress and NCP with their pre-poll small allies here.

Asked whether the chief ministerial post will remain with the Shiv Sena for five years, a senior Congress leader said, "It may happen so. Don't think anyone else (other than the Shiv Sena) will insist on it (five-year term)."