The fate of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who has offered to resign in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, hangs in balance as the Congress party grapples with the issue of leadership change in the state.Congress on Wednesday indicated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh will be replaced on the principle of accountability in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai."I don't think we should second guess. Consultations are on and the principle of accountability will be applied across the board," party spokesman Manish Tiwari said at the daily briefing at the Congress headquarters.He was replying to a volley of questions whether Deshmukh would escape the axe and continue to be chief minister and whether the principle of accountability would be applied to him too.While Deshmukh has already offered his resignation, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil have already resigned in the wake of last weeks attacks.Congress is grappling with the issue of leadership change, with a section said to be even wondering whether there was such a need as Lok Sabha elections are not far away.
