Amid heavy politicking in the aftermath of 26/11 -- the worst terror attack on Indian soil ever -- Vilasrao Deshmukh resigned as chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday, saying he respected the public anguish over the Mumbai terror attacks and owning moral responsibility.
His resignation came over a week after the attacks, as Mumbai continued to witness wide-spread citizen protests over what the local and international media dubbed as India’s own 9/11.
"I have accepted moral responsibility for Mumbai terror attacks. In a democracy one has to honour people's anguish and anger," said Deshmukh, who completed four years of his second term in office last month.
The 63-year-old Deshmukh drove to Raj Bhawan and submitted his resignation to Governor SC Jamir, soon after addressing a press conference.
"I have served for so long in the government... It is now my duty to serve the party", Deshmukh said when asked if he would contest the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2009.
"The party has to decide whether I should contest Lok Sabha or other election", Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh is the third senior leader after union minister for home Shivraj Patil and Maharshtra deputy chief minister RR Patil, to resign in what the main opposition BJP view as an attempt to resurrect its failing credibility.
Sticking to an oft-repeated party line of rhetoric Deshmukh refused to name a successor while adding: "The legislature party will decide and Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision", he said.
Asked about any regret during his tenure, Deshmukh pointed to the Mumbai terror attacks, adding "we could not save so many lives lost in the war against India".
Speculations over Congress’ choice for the post of Maharashtra chief minister were rife on Thursday as media reports said central ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, earlier the odds on favourites are now reportedly out of the reckoning.
The Congress’ search is now said to be zeroing in on former chief minister SB Chavan’s son Ashok Chavan.
Though the names of Maharashtra stalwarts Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and Narayan Rane are also doing the rounds but, those armed with inside information are laying their bets on Chavan.
Narayan Rane, a former Shiv Sena man with tremendous support in the Konkan region and links to an emergent political force in Maharashtra, may well turn out to be the dark horse in the contest, when party bosses Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister AK Antony, both responsible for India’s response to terror, take time-off to ‘consult’ with party MLAs in Maharastra
His resignation came over a week after the attacks, as Mumbai continued to witness wide-spread citizen protests over what the local and international media dubbed as India’s own 9/11.
"I have accepted moral responsibility for Mumbai terror attacks. In a democracy one has to honour people's anguish and anger," said Deshmukh, who completed four years of his second term in office last month.
The 63-year-old Deshmukh drove to Raj Bhawan and submitted his resignation to Governor SC Jamir, soon after addressing a press conference.
"I have served for so long in the government... It is now my duty to serve the party", Deshmukh said when asked if he would contest the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2009.
"The party has to decide whether I should contest Lok Sabha or other election", Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh is the third senior leader after union minister for home Shivraj Patil and Maharshtra deputy chief minister RR Patil, to resign in what the main opposition BJP view as an attempt to resurrect its failing credibility.
Sticking to an oft-repeated party line of rhetoric Deshmukh refused to name a successor while adding: "The legislature party will decide and Sonia Gandhi will take the final decision", he said.
Asked about any regret during his tenure, Deshmukh pointed to the Mumbai terror attacks, adding "we could not save so many lives lost in the war against India".
Speculations over Congress’ choice for the post of Maharashtra chief minister were rife on Thursday as media reports said central ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, earlier the odds on favourites are now reportedly out of the reckoning.
The Congress’ search is now said to be zeroing in on former chief minister SB Chavan’s son Ashok Chavan.
Though the names of Maharashtra stalwarts Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and Narayan Rane are also doing the rounds but, those armed with inside information are laying their bets on Chavan.
Narayan Rane, a former Shiv Sena man with tremendous support in the Konkan region and links to an emergent political force in Maharashtra, may well turn out to be the dark horse in the contest, when party bosses Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister AK Antony, both responsible for India’s response to terror, take time-off to ‘consult’ with party MLAs in Maharastra
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