The issue of Maharashtra chief ministership is unlikely to be resolved before Dussehera, with both the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party persisting with their claim to the top post.

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"A decision is unlikely before October 23 as Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee, [who is] leading the talks on behalf of the Congress, will be in West Bengal for Puja festivities," a leader closely associated with the negotiations said.

Both the Congress and NCP have claimed support of a larger group of MLAs.

Senior leaders, including Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, All India Congress Committee leaders Margaret Alva and Ahmed Patel, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prabha Rau and Mumbai Congress chief Gurudas Kamat, discussed the issue at Mukherjee's residence on Tuesday night.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar was also closeted with his party colleague Praful Patel.

The NCP chief has made it clear that if the Congress persists with its claim to the chief minister's post, his party will be happy to provide outside support to its government.

After the October 13 assembly polls in Maharashtra, the NCP, with 71 MLAs, emerged as the single largest party in the state. Congress has 69 seats.