New Delhi/Mumbai, Dec. 3: Even as the Congress party remains undecided about who will take over the reins of power in Maharashtra in the wake of incumbent Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh submitting his resignation twice to party president Sonia Gandhi, factions within the Congress have started lobbying for their respective candidates.

The Congress has for the time being deferred its decision on the Maharashtra leadership issue, as it is still trying to recover from the public backlash on its ineffectiveness in preventing last week''s terror attack in Mumbai.

New Delhi, Dec 2 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh held talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders here this evening at her residence following the Mumbai terror attacks.

Senior party leaders Pranab Mukehrjee, Ahamed Patel and A. K. Antony who is also in-charge of Maharashtra attended the meeting.

The meeting comes in the wake of Deshmukh''s offer of resignation following Mumbai terror attacks.

Deshmukh is under pressure from the opposition to resign after last week''s terror attacks.

New Delhi, Dec 2 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders here this evening in the wake of his offer to resign following the Mumbai terror attacks.

According to sources, discussions on the issue of Desmukh’s successor will gain momentum after his arrival.

Besides meeting Sonia Gandhi, Deshmukh will also meet Defence Minister A K Antony, who is in-charge of party affairs in Maharashtra and also Sonia Gandhi''s political secretary Ahmed Patel.

Mumbai, Dec. 2 : President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today met Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh here and discussed the recent terrorist attacks in the city.

Officials accompanying the President said that she has asked the chief minister to send reports at regular intervals to her on the progress being made in the investigations.

Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh seems to be in trouble again, this time due to visiting the Taj Hotel along with his son and the famous director Ram Gopal Varma.

In his defense Deshmukh said, "it was sheer coincidence that Varma was present when I visited Taj Hotel. I had neither invited him nor knew about his presence. I have been trying to restore normalcy in city and boost the confidence of people by visiting hospitals and sites struck by terrorists."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had offered to resign in the wake of the deadly Mumbai terror attacks. Speaking to the media, he said, "In the Congress Working Committee meeting day before yesterday, I offered to resign. The party high command has not taken any decision on this so far but whatever they decide I will accept."