Home minister Shivraj Patil quits, Chidambaram to take over

Home minister Shivraj Patil, under tremendous criticism over a spate of terrorist attacks in the country since last year, has resigned

Home minister Shivraj Patil gestures as he addresses mediapersons after a cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. (AFP Photo)
in the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes. Patil has said that he felt obliged to take "moral responsibility" for the brutal attacks in Mumbai, an official government source said.

Finance minister P Chidambaram will take over as the new home minister and the finance ministry will now be under the direct charge of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The CWC, which met here on Saturday night, gave the marching orders to Shivraj Patil.

There was unanimity in the CWC that the political face of the government can be saved only with a drastic overhaul.

Chidambaram, who had an earlier stint in the internal security department, was the obvious choice to succeed Patil and the PM's charge of the economy is expected to bolster confidence in the country's economic management.

The massive collateral damage of the commando operation at Taj, Trident and Nariman House is being blamed on the delay and inadequacy of the response of the MHA in pressing the NSG into service.

Patil, who had offered to step down at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday night, sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday morning, sources said.

The 74-year-old Patil was inducted into the Union Cabinet despite his defeat from Latur in Maharashtra in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. He has been a target of the opposition as also the detractors within the party over his handling of the internal security situation in the country.