The chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra has offered to resign after his deputy stepped down over the devastating Islamic militant attacks on the state capital Mumbai.
"I have offered to resign," Vilasrao Deshmukh told reporters on Monday.
"If the responsibility of the attacks is on the chief minister, then I will go. The final decision is with the high command," he said, referring to the leadership of the ruling congress party.
"There was no pressure on me," said Deshmukh, who tendered his resignation during a meeting late Sunday of the Congress main decision-making body.
There has also been widespread public anger in India over perceived intelligence and security failings that led to the attacks which claimed more than 170 lives.
Maharashtra state's deputy chief minister, RR Patil, stepped down earlier on Monday, officials said.
Interior Minister Shivraj Patil resigned on Sunday and has been replaced, while the country's powerful national security adviser offered to quit but will likely stay put.
The head of the country's coast guard also "retired" on Sunday, the Press Trust of India said.
The attacks saw a group of heavily armed gunmen land in Mumbai by boat, link up with a cell in the city and proceed to attack a string of targets including a crowded railway station, a hospital, two luxury hotels and a Jewish centre.
