I did not seek cabinet berth for son, says Murli Deora

Corporate affairs minister Murli Deora on Tuesday denied media reports that he had asked for his son Milind Deora's inclusion in the council of ministers even as he confirmed his 'oral' offer to step down during a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago.

Corporate affairs minister Murli Deora on Tuesday denied media reports that he had asked for his son Milind Deora's inclusion in the council of ministers even as he confirmed his 'oral' offer to step down during a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago.

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"Yes, I have offered to the Congress President to step down from the union council of ministers... Have not asked for anything more... It is not a sudden decision," he said.

In a statement, Deora said: "Due to personal reasons, I have offered to step down as a minister from the union cabinet and offered my services for the Congress party, where my political career began. I thank the Congress president and the Prime Minister for their continuous support and guidance."

Meanwhile, the Congress said it was a matter between Deora, the Prime Minister and the Congress president. "The party has nothing to do with it," Congress media department chairman Janardan Dwivedi said.

The media reports suggesting that he wanted his son to be named as a minister of state had created a flutter in the Congress circles.

Deora also clarified that his resignation had nothing to do with the CAG report on Reliance Industries. "I had initiated the CAG report...I will be happy to serve the party now and will wait for party’s decision…. I have the satisfaction of completing a full five-year stint as a union minister and so now I thought it will be appropriate to step down."

The move comes amid speculation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to undertake a cabinet reshuffle, which he had earlier promised to be an expansive exercise, after President Pratibha Patil's return from her Andhra Pradesh sojourn on July 8.