Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh will meet Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening in the wake of his offer of resignation following the Mumbai terror attacks.

Deshmukh will leave for Delhi after meeting President Prativa Patil, who is currently in Mumbai.

Deshmukh will hold talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi as well as senior leaders including A K Antony, who is in-charge of party affairs of Maharashtra and also Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

The discussions on the issue of successor to Deshmukh have gained momentum after these developments.

Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and AICC General Secretary Prithviraj Chavan are strong contenders for the top post in Maharashtra.