Maharashtra Deputy CM RR Patil, who was under fire for terming the recent terror attacks in Mumbai as a “small incident”, has resigned as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra. RR Patil has sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. “I have gone by my conscience and decided to step down”, says RR Patil.

There is little doubt that public outrage has forced Patil to resign. He had refused to resign from his post on Sunday. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar reportedly asked RR Patil to tender resignation after his “small incident’ remark caused public outrage across the country.

According to sources, Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh will be asked to resign. If he does not, then he is likely to be removed. The Congress leadership does not want to take any chance in the wake of rising public anger against the Congress and Centre for failing to fight the menace of terrorism.