NEW DELHI: Ashok Chavan has emerged the top choice of the Congress legislature party in Maharashtra after a central team carried out an assessment exercise among the MLAs, MLCs and MPs on who should succeed Vilasrao Deshmukh as chief minister. ( Watch )

As indicated by TOI, the majority view, top sources said, backed state industries minister Ashok Chavan while the second choice was former Shiv Sainik and revenue minister Narayan Rane.

Despite finishing second best, Rane continued to lobby hard in a spirit of do-or-die. He is threatening not to work under Chavan.

While Chavan should get the top job, the central leadership has to discuss the report of senior leaders Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony with ally and NCP chief Sharad Pawar which would be followed by final endorsement from Sonia Gandhi.

Pawar has been lukewarm towards Chavan and it remains to be seen how he reacts now, after his first choice of union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was ignored well before the race began. Congress has clearly plumped for a Maratha to lead the party in the state, and has ignored the NCP view that it go for a non-Maratha to set right the social combination.

The AICC has felt that replacing Deshmukh with a non-Maratha would disadvantage the party in comparison to the NCP which is led by the tallest Maratha leader in the state.

As it appears, NCP would now be forced to pick a non-Maratha, possibly Chhagan Bhujbal to man the deputy CM's post and is likely to give the home ministry to Jayant Patil, currently finance minister. The latter being a Maratha would balance the NCP's own bid to remain the community's first choice.

If Chavan actually bags the CM's post, as it appears likely, then Rane's reaction would be worth watching. The Shiv Sainik who pulled out all stops to dislodge Deshmukh had given up all hope before once again being in sight of fulfilling his dream.

The ability of Congress brass to keep the house intact and mould a cohesive state unit to face the coming elections is set to be tested big time.