Balasaheb Thorat, who was recently named the leader of the Congress legislative party, is also expected to head the state unit of the party. Incumbent president Ashok Chavan had resigned in the wake of the Lok Sabha debacle, but the decision is still pending. Sources said the declaration about Thorat was just a formality.

Thorat shot into prominence during the Lok Sabha campaign when party president Rahul Gandhi stayed overnight in his town and spent quality time with his family. The development was seen as a trust-building exercise, in view of the rebellion of another senior leader and Thorat's arch-rival Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and his son against the Congress. The latter joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last month and was inducted as a cabinet minister. His son Sujay has been elected as a BJP MP.