Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon over the farm crisis in Maharashtra, causing a buzz in the middle of intense political activity to forma government in the state after a week of President's Rule.

"Due to the prevalence of Presidential Rule in the state, your urgent intervention is highly necessitated. I shall be grateful, ifyou take immediate steps to initiate massive relief measures and ameliorate the miseries of distressed farmers," Mr Pawar wrote to PM Modi in a three-page letter, accessed .

The meeting was seen as significant at a time Sharad Pawar's NCP is much sought after for an alliance that can take power in Maharashtra after no party won a majority in last month's election. An offer of thePresident's post for the 79-year-old Maharashtra stalwart is also believed tobe on the table.NCP and Congress leaders will meet in the evening to discusshow to partner with the Shiv Sena, a long-term BJP ally that recently ended itsalliance with the ruling party over a power tussle.

The BJP and Shiv Sena contested the polls in an alliance andwon enough seats together but fell out over the Sena's demand for 50:50 power sharing including rotational chief ministership. The BJP rejected Sena'sassertion that such a deal was discussed earlier this year, before the nationalelection.

The Sena hopes to form government with support from rivalsNCP and Congress and was on the verge of staking claim last week, but it hasbeen forced to wait as the two parties take their time weighing their options.Againstthis backdrop, PM Modi's praise for the NCP on Monday in parliament was viewedwith interest.

"Today, I want to appreciate two parties, NCP and BJD(Biju Janata Dal of Naveen Patnaik). These parties have wonderfully adhered toparliamentary norms. They have never gone into the well of the house (toprotest). Yet, they have made their points very effectively. Every politicalparty, including my party, should learn from them," the Prime Ministersaid, opening a debate to mark the 250th session of the Rajya Sabha.There havebeen reports about the BJP - which emerged as the single largest party with 105seats in the 288-member assembly - pursuing Mr Pawar, whose party is only twoseats behind the Shiv Sena (56) and can help the BJP cross the majority-mark of145. Sources say Mr Pawar has been given a big offer to chew on - that of thepost of President of India.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who has been in touch with MrPawar and met him even last evening, said it was he who had requested theveteran leader to "brief the PM about the farmer crisis" as he is oneof the tallest leaders of the state."If Uddhav Thackeray comes to Delhiand all of us meet PM Modi, then what khichdi will you cook (what will youspeculate)? Many MPs will meet the PM to speak about Maharashtra," Mr Rautsaid.

Shiv Sena sources says government formation with the NCP andCongress is on track. Mr Raut says "by early December", a ShivSena-led alliance government will be in power in Maharashtra. "Allobstacles that were raised in the last 10-15 days have been cleared. Bytomorrow you will know that all obstacles have been cleared," he saidtoday.

Speculation that a Sena-NCP-Congress is not a done deal wasfueled by Sharad Pawar's cryptic, noncommittal replies to the media.

With the NCP and Congress stalling a decision, Sena sourc essay the party is "happy to revive its alliance with the BJP" if theBJP reverts to the 50-50 chief ministership formula.

Mr Pawar has ruled out any understanding with the BJP."There is no question of supporting the BJP. We will have discussions withthe Congress, our partner," he said on Monday after meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.