Deputy chief minister of India's Maharashtra state resigns

Dec 1, 2008, 4:53 GMT

New Delhi - RR Patil, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state who also holds the state's Home Ministry portfolio, resigned on Monday, as political heads started rolling in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

A three-day terrorist siege of Mumbai, India's financial hub and capital of Maharashtra, ended Saturday after killing 187 people, including 28 foreigners.

Patil was under tremendous pressure to resign after he described the Mumbai terror strike as a 'minor incident.'

'In a big city such as Mumbai, incidents likes these keep happening,' Patil had told the media on Saturday.

Patil belongs to the National Congress Party, which is part of a coalition government of Maharashtra as well as leading the ruling federal alliance.

'I have submitted my resignation letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. I have gone by my conscience and decided to take this step,' Patil was quoted as saying by NDTV television network on Monday.

Speculation was rife that Deshmukh would also resigned by Tuesday.

RR Patil's resignation follows on the heels of that of federal home minister Shivraj Patil on Sunday as the quest for accountability begins.

Federal Minister P Chidambaram, who earlier held the finance portfolio, has now taken over as home minister. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be looking after the finance portfolio.

Both the Patils' resignations come on the heels of increasing evidence that prior intelligence on a possible attack on Mumbai from the sea had not been effectively investigated.

In both the federal government and in Mahrashtra, the home portfolio includes internal security and the minister is in charge of police and intelligence.