Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's resignation has been accepted by Governor Mohammed Fazal on January 17 morning, according to official sources.

Deshmukh sent his resignation to the Governor on January 16 night. The resignation has been accepted on January 17 morning, official sources said.

The Governor has asked Deshmukh to be the caretaker Chief Minister till further arrangements are made.

Though Deshmukh had stated on January 16 that he would seek an appointment with the Governor in the morning, he preferred to tender his resignation on January 16 night itself following Fazal's return from New Delhi, the sources added.

The resignation marks the end of over three-year innings of Deshmukh as the 21st Chief Minister of the state. He was sworn-in on October 18, 1999 after the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) decided to form the government in the state defeating the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance.

Deshmukh has also the distinction of being the only Congress Chief Minister, besides Vasantrao Naik, to be in the chair for three consecutive years.

A master politician, Deshmukh headed the Congress-NCP Democratic Front (DF) government, which had eight constituents, with adroit skill braving dissidence from within the Congress and challenges from Shiv Sena-BJP saffron combine opposition.

However, a lacklustre performance, pressure from the party's rank and file to give the state government a face-lift following party's drubbing in the neighbouring Gujarat are the prominent reasons for Deshmukh's ouster, party sources said.

During his three-year-tenure, Deshmukh failed to check the state's spiralling debt, which mounted to a staggering Rs 78,000 crore from Rs 36,000 crore.

A known Sharad Pawar baiter, Deshmukh, ironically was accused by his detractors of hobnobbing with the Maratha strongman during his stint as the head of the state. Deshmukh, has however, denied the charge.

Deshmukh was the third politician from the economically backward Marathwada region to hold the post of Chief Minister.

His journey from the 'sarpanch' of Babhalgaon village in Latur district to the 21st Chief Minister of Maharashtra has been marked by a long legislature and administrative experience.

PTI