It was a late night letter from Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit that apparently led E Sreedharan to change his decision and continue as the DMRC chief. Sreedharan, who resigned as the DMRC Managing Director yesterday after owning moral responsibility for a mishap at a metro construction site that killed six people, withdrew his resignation today.

"Sreedharan has decided to withdraw his resignation in view of the letter received last night from Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit," DMRC Spokesman Anuj Dayal told reporters here. Dikshit had yesterday rejected Sreedharan''s resignation, saying his decision would affect the future of the organisation.

Sources said the letter from Dikshit, for whom Sreedharan has high regards, led the 77-year-old''s to change his mind and stay as the chief of the capital''s modern transport system. "He has high regards for the Chief Minister and we all believe that only the letter from Dikshit would have made him change his mind," sources said, adding Sreedharan otherwise is known for sticking to his decisions.

Sreedharan, known for his no-nonsense approach, came to office today and even attended the weekly Monday meeting besides visiting the mishap site thrice. He said the four-member committee will go into all aspects of the incident that led to the death of six people.