Deshmukh likely to be removed as CM
NDTV Correspondent
Monday, December 01, 2008 12:23 AM (Mumbai)
After Shivraj Patil, it may be Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's turn next. Deshmukh, in the line of fire in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, is likely to be removed over the next few days.
Sources said no decision had been taken yet on who would replace him, but his exit was likely in the next couple of days.
Sunday was an action-packed day. It began with the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil resigning and ended with the likelihood of the Maharashtra Chief Minister being replaced. In the middle, there was speculation over the National Security Adviser M K Narayanan having quit, but the PMO was quick to refute that.
Both Patil and Deshmukh came under attack at Saturday's Congress Working Committee meeting and leaders suggested that someone must own responsibility. Deshmukh, however, seemed rather unconcerned on Sunday, when he made his first visit inside a devastated Taj hotel.
He had for company film director Ram Gopal Verma and his son Ritiesh, the film actor. Later, the same group visited the Trident as well.
The Chief Minister was clearly unconcerned about insensitivities or about the impending questions of his survival.
However, sources in Delhi had already said that it was this kind of casual approach, which would see the clock ticking for both Deshmukh and his Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who did his own bit to trivialise the tragedy with this casual remark.
NDTV.com: Deshmukh likely to be removed as CM