M'rashtra polls: Shinde admits close fight

Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has said the Cong-NCP alliance was in touch with rebels, who could play a key role in Govt formation.

Admitting that the initial trends indicate a close fight in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday said the Congress-NCP alliance was in touch with rebels, who could play a key role in government formation.

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However, he said he would wait till the last round of counting before deciding the future strategy towards formation of the new government.

"Our leaders are in touch with them; they are also in touch with us," Shinde said in an obvious reference to rebels.

Asked who was the probable candidate for chief ministership, Shinde said issue will be decided by consensus by the elected representatives.

The Chief Minister said he was firm on his decision of not to contest any more assembly polls. "I have already said that I would not like to be in state politics after the age of 60 and I stick by the decision", he said.