Considered to be a loyalist of the Gandhi family, Shinde had succeeded Deshmukh towards the end of the tenure of the previous Congress-NCP government in 2003.

Shinde met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday morning soon after Deshmukh announced that he had offered to quit as Chief Minister at the meeting of the Congress Working Committee on Saturday.

Besides Shinde, the name of Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan is doing the rounds in party circles as a possible successor to Deshmukh.

When contacted, Shinde refused to comment on the political developments in Maharashtra. "No comments," was his constant refrain to a volley of questions from reporters in New Delhi.

Shinde is talked about as a possible successor as he is known to have a good rapport with leaders of the coalition partner NCP, including its chief Sharad Pawar.

The search for Deshmukh's successor has gained urgency as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil resigned a day after Shivraj Patil was eased out as Union Home Minister.

Gandhi met Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister and in-charge of party affairs in Maharashtra A K Antony and senior party leader Ahmed Patel.

"A coalition government is there (in Maharashtra) and we have to consult the allies. Consultations are on. At this point I cannot say anything. I can say something later today or tomorrow," Antony told reporters after the meeting.

Deshmukh in trouble

More political heads rolled on Monday in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on the way out and his deputy R R Patil submitting his resignation.

"I offered to resign at the CWC meeting (on Saturday) if any responsibility lies on the Chief Minister. Whatever decision the high command and my leader takes, I will abide by it," 63-year-old Deshmukh told a news conference here.

Asked whether he has sent his resignation, he said "I am telling you in very, very simple words. You are intelligent enough to understand."

Deshmukh said Patil, who held the Home portfolio and had come under criticism for his handling of the situation, had sent his resignation which has been accepted and forwarded to Governor S C Jamir.

The continuance of Deshmukh, who has been Chief Minister for over four years, became untenable after the state government came under severe criticism over the last week's terror attacks and Shivraj Patil was eased out of the Union Home Ministry yesterday.

The Chief Minister also faced the flak when he was seen with his actor son Ritesh and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma during a visit to Hotel Taj yesterday. On his successor, Deshmukh said neither has he discussed this issue with the high command nor has the central leadership told him anything.

Deshmukh also sought to defend Ritesh and Varma accompanying him to Hotel Taj saying he did nothing wrong.

The Chief Minister also announced a slew of measures to strengthen security in the state proposing to set up a unified command for better coordination among security forces.

He also announced that the Maharashtra State Security Guards, on the lines of the National Security Guards, within four months.

A state intelligence training centre would soon become functional in Pune.

On modernisation of police force, he said the state government would set up 24 coastal police stations for better monitoring of the seas.

The state government would also give smart cards to all fishermen, Deshmukh said and requested the Centre to direct other coastal states to follow suit.

The Chief Minister also announced that the government would form a State Security Council to go into matters of security in Maharashtra.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil resigns

Maharastra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who was in the cross hairs in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, resigned on Monday.

"I have submitted my resignation letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. I have gone by my conscience and decided to take this step," Patil said.

Patil on Sunday had met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and said that he would not resign from his post.

He further said that when Akshardham was attacked, the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did not resign and when the Parliament was attacked the then Union Home Minister L K Advani did not resign.

"Then why should I resign after the Mumbai attack? What morality is BJP talking about?" Patil questioned.

Meanwhile, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to accept the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who has resigned in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

"I have told the Chief Minister to accept the resignation of Patil," Pawar said.