New Delhi, Mar 8 : The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Pa

Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister R.R. Patil, who was tipped to be state unit president of the National Congress Party (NCP) after he stepped down last week, has declined to accept the post. 

Patil, who was also the state home minister before he resigned in the wake of the Mumbai terror attack on Nov 26 that killed at least 180 people, has instead preferred to take a break. 

The former minister told NCP president Sharad Pawar that he would like to have a break till after the forthcoming state assembly elections, said a party functionary.  

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has convened a meeting of its Maharashtra Legislature Party on Tuesday in Mumbai.

The legislators will elect a leader following Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil's resignation in the wake of the terror strikes in the city.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and senior party leader D P Tripathi will be the central observers at the meeting.

Names of Chagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil and Delip Walse Patil are the front runners for the top post.

Shillong, March 3 : A total of 75 per cent voters today cast their votes for 59 out of the 60 assembly seats in Meghalaya, election office sources have said.

Polling, which began on a brisk note, was affected for some time because of thunderstorm and rain in many parts of the state.

Chief Minister D D Lapang cast his vote at Nongpoh in Ribhoi district and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Purno A Sangma cast his ballot at Tura.