Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna submitted his resignation to President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday, paving the way for his return to active politics.

Earlier in the day, he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who gave the go-ahead for his return.

The development comes amid speculations that the Election Commission may complete the delimitation process in Karnataka well within time and may not postpone the Assembly elections beyond May, when the President’s Rule expires.

Congress has been looking for Krishna’s return to Karnataka well before the Assembly elections to steer the party’s electoral prospects during elections. Krishna had expressed his desire to enter into Karnataka politics, relinquishing the Governor’s post.

Although there was no official word on this matter, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was in Delhi on Wednesday and had met Sonia Gandhi, confirmed the development. “I talked to S M Krishna today. I thanked him for his helpful guidance as the Governor for the past three year and wished him good luck for his future political endeavours,” said Deshmukh confirming Krishna’s resignation, while addressing a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday.

However, Deshmukh said during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi there was no discussion on the next Governor. He claimed that his aim of meeting Sonia was to put forward the state Government’s demand to modify the loan waiver package and make it more beneficial for Vidarbha.