While talking to Express Newsline, Gaekwad, a former MP, claimed that the party central leadership had promised him the ticket. Patel, too, said she had told the party that only the ticket for the Vadodara Lok Sabha seat would do for her.

The decision will be significant; already, there are rumours that Gaekwad may join Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party if refused a ticket. Observers J P Pandey and P D Vasava, however, told Express Newsline that Gaekwad was not planning anything of the sort.

Patel, however, did not mince her words while speaking to Express Newsline. ``I will not accept the ticket for any other seat'', she said, asserting that she had a right to represent the place of her birth. In response to a question, she said if denied a ticket, she would plan her course of action.

``But I won't join Pawar. I hope even Gaekwad doesn't do so (if refused a ticket)'', she said.

When asked about why she had not staked claim for the Rajya Sabha seat, the former member of the Upper House said both she and All India Congress Committee treasurer Ahmed Patel had left the decision to party president Sonia Gandhi. ``Ahmed Patel's services were apparently required more during elections as he is the treasurer,'' she said. While both Gaekwad and Patel were confident of their claims, the party observers also included former District Panchayat president Jagdish Patel, city party chief Ashwin Shah and wife of former Congress MP Shubanginiraje Gaekwad in their shortlist.

Maintaining that the representations were made in a cordial atmosphere, the observers said they had heard nearly 700 people from seven assembly segments.Evading a reply when asked if a local would be given the ticket, Pandey said they were here only to glean the party workers' opinion for conveyance to the State party leadership. ``We are looking for a winning candidate. He or she should also have a personality,'' he said.

While Shah's supporters highlighted his performance as city unit chief, Jagdish Patel-loyalists focused on his stint as district panchayat president.

A group of youth Congress workers reportedly broke window panes in the Congress office demanding that Gaekwad be given the ticket. Party leaders, however, said this happened due to the rush.

The observers will submit the report to the State leaders before July 24, when the Pradesh Election Committee meets.