Three candidates - Arun Dhimdhime of PVA, Anil Shirole of BJP and Arvind Shinde of Congress filed their nominations for the post of standing committee chairman.

Confusion prevailed in PVA, BJP and Shiv Sena throughout the day since PVA leader Suresh Kalmadi, who was expected to convene a meeting to sort out the issue, did not make an appearance though he was reportedly in the town.

Local BJP leaders after talks with Shiv Sena leaders decided that BJP should contest the election for standing committee chairman while Shiv Sena should fight for deputy mayor's post.

BJP leader Suhas Kulkarni said the party had no option but to contest the election for standing committee chairman since Kalmadi had already announced that PVA would not give up the post of mayor. Anil Shirole filed his nomination papers along with Sena leaders.

Meanwhile, PVA corporator Arun Dhimdhime also filed his papers after his name was officially announced by Kalmadi. A close-door meeting of the PVA corporators witnessed some heated moments when Shivaji Kshirsagar, who was denied the opportunity last year, rose to speak.

Leader of the House Chandrakant Chhajed refused to comment anything saying that the joint meeting of the leaders would solve the problem. The PVA sources, however, said that the party was keen to bag the posts of mayor and standing committee chairman. The sources said a meeting would take place in Mumbai on Wednesday. It will be attended by Kalmadi, Sena leader Raj Thackeray and BJP state unit secretary Sharad Kulkarni.

The Congress selection board earlier in the morning decided to field Arvind Shinde. Corporatrs Dilip Tupe and Vilas Wadekar who were lobbying hard failed to get the nod. The board unanimously decided to field Shinde. The election will take place on Friday.