Cong yet to decide on Deshmukh

The Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has offered resignation as a damage control measure for the Mumbai mayhem but the Congress high command is yet to take any decision in this regard.

The political fallout of the Mumbai terror attacks has already resulted in the exit of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil. Under such circumstances, it is almost certain that Congress will soon come out with the successor of Deshmukh.

Deshmukh has already held talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday and said that he would go with his party’s decision. The meeting was also attended by Gandhi's political secretary Ahmad Patel, Defence Minister A K Antony, and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Briefing journalists outside 10 Janpath after the Congress Working Committee meet, A K Antony told he (Deshmukh) had already offered to resign and in the meeting he explained his position and reiterated that he was willing to resign. The party would continue its discussion with all concerned and then come out with its stand soon.

Antony will also hold meeting with coalition partner and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday to discuss over the issue of successor. Pawar will decide on the next Deputy Chief Minister in such a critical condition with assembly elections are only three months away.

Meanwhile, lobbying for next Maharashtra chief minister has begun with names of Union minister Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, Ashok Chavan, Narayan Rane and Prithviraj Chavan.

The names of Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, however, are doing the rounds for the deputy chief minister's job.