Scotching speculation about seeking additional ministerial berths for the NCP, Sharad Pawar on Thursday said he had asked the Prime Minister to reduce the number of his existing portfolios to focus on strengthening his party.
Mr. Pawar dismissed suggestion that he had sought ministerial berths for his MP daughter Supriya Sule and other party leaders.
“I haven't demanded any additional berths,” he said in an informal interaction with media here after being felicitated on his becoming the International Cricket Council (ICC) president.
“There are some districts in Maharashtra where I have not been able to visit in a couple of years. I want to go and meet people and interact with the youth,” Pawar said.
“Given the strength of my party in Parliament, I can't ask for additional ministerial berths,” Mr. Pawar said.
To a query, he denied that NCP had demanded that Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel be elevated to Cabinet rank.
