MUMBAI: It was not Ramu but Lalu who drove the last nail in the coffin for Vilasrao Deshmukh. Talk in the Congress is that politicians from the Hindi belt along with NCP president Sharad Pawar scripted the change of leadership in Maharashtra after 2611. A party general secretary, who did not want to be named, said, "The central leadership was forced to punish Deshmukh after pressure from UPA allies."

The allies are said to have been waiting to settle scores with Deshmukh for failing to get tough with the MNS for its sectarian campaign against North Indians. When the opportunity presented itself, the Rashtriya Janata Dal led by railway minister Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav struck.

After the terrorist strike, all guns were trained on Union home minister Shivraj Patil for the lapses that allowed the terrorists to cross the sea and come to Mumbai. The high command was also not keen on a change of guard in Maharashtra as it reckoned Deshmukh was its best bet ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The leadership was caught by surprise when the allies started asking for his head. What made the Congress vulnerable was Pawar uniting with the allies.

After 26/11,Pawar found himself in a sticky situation following the casual remarks of then home minister RR Patil. Sensing trouble from UPA allies, Pawar asked Patil to step down. This hemmed the Congress in, which succumbed when the RJD threatened to pull out ahead of the winter session of Parliament.
Source : Central