By IANS,
New Delhi : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been asked to step down following last week’s terrorist attack in Mumbai, Congress leader A.K. Antony said here Wedenesday.
“Deshmukh has been asked to resign,” Antony, who is in charge of the party’s Maharashtra affairs, told reporters.
He was speaking after a meeting at party president Sonia Gandhi’s residence. Defence Minister Antony, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel attended the meeting.
“Party observers will go to Maharashtra tomorrow (Thursday) to decide on the next chief minister,” Antony said.
Deshmukh was under pressure to quit in the aftermath of the Nov 26 terrorist attack, especially after Shivraj Patil resigned as central home minister Sunday, followed by R.R. Patil who had to quit as the state’s deputy chief minister and home minister.