Mumbai, July 08: Scotching speculation about seeking additional ministerial berths for NCP, Sharad Pawar today said he had asked the Prime Minister to reduce the number of his existing portfolios to focus on strengthening his party.
Pawar, who had fuelled speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle after he asked the Prime Minister to ‘reduce his burden’, dismissed suggestion that he had sought ministerial berths for his MP daughter Supriya Sule and other party leaders.
There is talk of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh effecting changes in the Council of Ministers before the Monsoon session of Parliament commences on July 26.
“I haven’t demanded any additional berths,” the Agriculture Minister said in an informal interaction with media here last night after being felicitated on being elected International Cricket Council(ICC) president.
–Agencies