Deshmukh meets AICC observers

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh met All India Congress Committee observers Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi in Mumbai on Thursday morning.

However, he refused to divulge details of the meeting.

On Wednesday 12 independent MLAs had pledged support to the Congress-led coalition government in the state, implying that any leader picked by the party's high command to replace Deshmukh would be acceptable to them.

These MLAs had saved Deshmukh when the Peasants and Workers' Party had withdrawn its support to his government in June 2002.

The Political Crisis in Maharashtra: The Full Coverage