‘Supriya not interested in joining government'

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday said his request to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reduce the number of his portfolios was intended neither to elevate his Nationalist Congress Party colleague Praful Patel to Cabinet rank nor seek a ministerial berth for his daughter Supriya Sule.

“No, no. She [Ms. Sule] is not interested in joining the government at all at this end. And secondly, I am not going to insist that a Ministry should be given to my party,” Mr. Pawar told CNN-IBN during the “Devil's Advocate” programme.

On whether there was an attempt to find ministerial post for Ms. Sule or a promotion for Mr. Patel, he said: “No, no. We know what the practice is in the UPA. How many portfolios you are eligible for depends on your total number in Parliament. And my party got according to its numbers.”

In fact, he added, his party did not have “any right” to ask for additional ministerial post.

‘Big work load'

He said he asked Dr. Singh to reduce the number of his portfolios because of “too much of workload.”

“It is too much of a workload, and in the last five years I have not only managed but have substantially improved…I am also a party chief. I want to travel little more in India, in the interior part of the country. That will be helpful for the Agriculture Ministry, and also for me to keep my rapport with the masses,” he said.