Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has quit as head of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on telecom. Mr. Pawar had three days ago replaced Pranab Mukherjee who is contesting the Presidential Polls.

Mr. Pawar, who was to chair the first meeting of the reconstituted EGoM on Monday, postponed the meeting and then wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In his letter Mr. Pawar recalled how attempts were made to drag him in the controversy surrounding the allocation of 2G spectrum and that it would be appropriate for him to recuse himself from heading the EGoM.

He also said, the Prime Minister has agreed to relieve him from the responsibility of Chairman of EGoM.