According to a Congress leader, associated with the preparation of election strategy in the state, 'the seat sharing has almost been finalised.' He claimed: 'The Congress will contest on 174 seats and NCP on 114'.

The leader also said the Congress will bring out its first list of 50 candidates by Sep 19.

The Congress-NCP alliance rules Maharashtra, which goes to polls Oct 13.

In the April-May Lok Sabha elections, the Congress contested 25 of the 48 seats in the state and won 17. The NCP won only eight of the 21 seats it fought.

In the 2004 assembly polls, the Congress contested 157 of the 288 seats and NCP fielded candidates in 124 seats, leaving the rest to their allies. The NCP has 71 seats and the Congress 69 in the state assembly.