Prez Patil’s son declared Cong candidate for Amrawati: Sources

“I have full faith in the Congress leadership. Sonia ji and Rahul Gandhi will do justice to me as my claim (to the seat) is legitimate and judicious,” Deshmukh said amid reports that Shekhawat has been selected for the seat.

Asked if the minister would file his papers even if denied a Congress ticket,a close aide who did not want to be named said,“the last date for filing papers is September 25… we will see who the party nominates.” Certain party leaders have already expressed fear that Deshmukh could turn a rebel if denied a party ticket.

Deshmukh had met senior party leaders in Delhi on Tuesday from where he flew in to Nagpur and reached Amravati,around 150 km from the Orange City.

“There is a steady stream of supporters coming in to meet the minister at his residence,” the aide claimed.

51-year Deshmukh has been representing Amravati for the past 10 years,winning in 2004 by over 32,000 votes after wresting it from BJP in 1999.

While seeking party nomination for himself,Deshmukh has claimed that Rajendra Shekhawat has been a resident of Mumbai for over three decades and had even sought ticket from Worli Assembly constituency in the metropolis in 1999.