The frontrunners for the post of chief minister in the three states where assembly election results were declared on Thursday continue to be the current incumbents.

As the final steps towards forming new governments in the three states are taken, Ashok Chavan in Maharashtra, Bhupi-nder Singh Hooda in Haryana and Dorjee Khandu in Arunachal Pradesh, each of whom led the Congress to victory, are most likely to retain power.

With union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh opting out of the race in Maharashtra after his meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday, Ashok Chavan is certain to continue as chief minister. Narayan Rane, who also vied for the post, was never a serious contender.

In Haryana too, Bhupinder Singh Hooda is all set to remain in his chair despite the Congress’s electoral setback, which saw it fall six short of a majority in the 90-member assembly. He has cobbled up a majority by wooing the seven independents who had won.

In Arunachal Pradesh, chief minister Dorjee Khandu has hardly any competition