Key govt issues to be decided by CCPA during PM's visit abroad

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs ( CCPA) will take decisions on all urgent issues concerning the government in the absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Cambodia beginning today.

The Cabinet Secretariat also said in an order that either Defence Minister A K Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram or Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will be available in the capital for disposal of urgent government business during the period of Prime Minister's absence, official sources said.

The working arrangement was made in view of the Prime Minister's three-day tour of Cambodia from November 18 to 20 to attend ASEAN and East Asia Summits.

Apart from Antony, Chidambaram and Shinde, those who are members of the CCPA include Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, Urban and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, Chemical and Fertiliser Minister M K Alagiri and External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed.

After last night's order, the Home Minister has not been able to travel to Maharashtra to attend the funeral of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today, the sources said.