Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh got another breather today as the Congress leadership deferred its decision on his possible resignation in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Amid speculation over his replacement, Deshmukh met Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today. The chief minister arrived here in the evening and reportedly met Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmad Patel before leaving for 10 Janpath.
The meeting between Gandhi and Deshmukh was also attended by Patel, Defence Minister AK Antony and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The pressure on Deshmukh to resign increased after his deputy and NCP
leader RR Patil put in his papers yesterday at the behest of his party chief Sharad Pawar.
Ashok Chavan, the industry minister of Maharashtra has emerged as a possible candidate for the Maharashtra CM’s post.
Chavan is a MLA from Nanded and he is also a Maratha like Deshmukh. He is the son of SB Chavan, a two-time chief minister of the state.
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