UPA govt set to clip Pawar's wings?

In a possible attempt to clip his wings, the Congress is mulling over the division of Agriculture, Food and Civil supplies minister Sharad Pawar's portfolios, in the immediate aftermath of his assumption of office as the International Cricket Council President.

In a possible attempt to clip his wings, the Congress is mulling over the division of Agriculture and Food and Civil supplies minister Sharad Pawar's portfolios, in the immediate aftermath of his assumption of office as the International Cricket Council President.

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According to CNN-IBN, sources have indicated that the veteran Maratha leader might be relieved from his duties as the Food and Civil Supplies Minister.

Pawar has faced the flak of the opposition and his alliance partners for not being able to control the sky-rocketing food prices, and has been accussed of devoting more time to cricket than his national responsibilities.

Reports suggest that members of the Congress feel that burdened with the repsonsibility of being the ICC President, the NCP supremo may not be able to discharge his responsibilities with the required amount of diligence.

However, the former BCCI chairman thinks otherwise, and has suggested that although he will have to be in Dubai for 3-4 days every month, it will not impact his work back home.

“Dubai works on Saturday and Sunday, so generally I have to spend three to four days in a month. It's a matter of a two-hour flight, so I think there won't be any difficulty. Secondly I will discuss with Prime Minister about my responsibilities and will take appropriate decision that my government work is not affected,” he said on Friday.

Rising food inflation, clubbed with next year's state elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, are raising many an eyebrow amongst the DMK and the TMC, two of UPA's key allies at the centre.