Deshmukh in trouble

More political heads rolled on Monday in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on the way out and his deputy R R Patil submitting his resignation.

"I offered to resign at the CWC meeting (on Saturday) if any responsibility lies on the Chief Minister. Whatever decision the high command and my leader takes, I will abide by it," 63-year-old Deshmukh told a news conference here.

Asked whether he has sent his resignation, he said "I am telling you in very, very simple words. You are intelligent enough to understand."

Deshmukh said Patil, who held the Home portfolio and had come under criticism for his handling of the situation, had sent his resignation which has been accepted and forwarded to Governor S C Jamir.

The continuance of Deshmukh, who has been Chief Minister for over four years, became untenable after the state government came under severe criticism over the last week's terror attacks and Shivraj Patil was eased out of the Union Home Ministry yesterday.

The Chief Minister also faced the flak when he was seen with his actor son Ritesh and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma during a visit to Hotel Taj yesterday. On his successor, Deshmukh said neither has he discussed this issue with the high command nor has the central leadership told him anything.

Deshmukh also sought to defend Ritesh and Varma accompanying him to Hotel Taj saying he did nothing wrong.

The Chief Minister also announced a slew of measures to strengthen security in the state proposing to set up a unified command for better coordination among security forces.

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