His prime-ministerial ambitions over, NCP chief Sharad Pawar may opt out of the cabinet to set his house in order for the state polls later this year.
Pawar has not spoken to Manmohan Singh or Sonia Gandhi. He is believed to be weighing his options. Under a formula evolved by the Congress for ministerial berths for its allies, the NCP with nine MPs may get just one cabinet post and one post of minister of state. Pawar may prefer to nominate Praful Patel and daughter Supriya Sule.
Apart from the fact that it’s crowded at the top in the new dispensation, Pawar has to consider the changing equations in Maharashtra. After the Congress’s windfall in the Lok Sabha polls (it was the only party to increase its seat tally), local leaders want to snap ties with the NCP before the state polls.
Pawar also has cricket commitments, taking over as ICC chief in 2010. He will be spreading himself too thin if he takes on a ministry as well.
