"Rane's name has been okayed by the high command, with AICC in-charge for Maharashtra, A K Antony backing Rane for the post. What's more, even NCP, Congress' alliance partner, is amenable to the move," party sources said on Thursday.

Other names discussed were that of Union Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan and senior leader Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, the sources said.

"Pawar opposed Vikhe Patil's name and was also not agreeable on Chavan," the sources said.

The name of other contender, state Industries Minister Ashok Chavan, was not discussed much, they added. Rane, a former Sena CM, is among the prominent detractors of Deshmukh, who is into his second term as Chief Minister.

Pranab, Antony are 'observers'

Senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony left for Mumbai as central observers of the party to oversee the election of a successor to Vilasrao Deshmukh who has been asked to step down in the wake of the terror attacks in the metropolis.

"Both of us are going as observers," Antony said on Wednesday morning.

Mukherjee had said on that views of the MLAs on the leadership issue will be sought at the meeting of the state Congress Legislature Party.

Mukherjee had declined to hazard any guess as to who would be next Chief Minister and whether he would be a Dalit or from the Maratha community.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar is also expected to go to Mumbai for consultations with state party leaders. Pawar has been authorized by the NCP legislature party to name its leader to succeed R R Patil as the next deputy chief minister.

Maharashtra was minus a Chief Minister on Wednesday night after the Congress leadership accepted the resignation of Vilasrao Deshmukh but delayed a decision on his replacement.

Congress sources indicated that Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan, who had earlier been considered serious contenders, were more or less out of the race as the party wanted a leader active in the state for the top job.

Rane, the sources said, was the front runner since he also had the blessings of Sharad Pawar, chief of ally NCP. Deshmukh and Rane have had a running battle with the latter sniping at the CM openly, even seeking his removal.

It is learnt that the NCP was agreeable to Shinde as CM but the Congress wanted a Maratha leader.

Prithviraj Chavan was not acceptable to the NCP since he comes from Karad in the NCP bastion of western Maharashtra and the party views him as a threat. The NCP also considers Ashok Chavan “too junior”.