Power minister Shinde travels in economy class

MUMBAI: Abiding by the Congress's austerity drive, Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde flew back to Delhi in economy class.

Shinde was in Mumbai for the last three days to participate in the State Parliamentary Board meetings where over 3,000 aspirants were interviewed for the October 13 Assembly elections.

"I have booked my ticket back to Delhi by the 6 pm Indian Airlines flight in economy class," Shinde told reporters at the party office before leaving for the airport.

When asked about Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's comments that ministers cannot clear files and work travelling in economy class, Shinde said, "I can not speak for others".

He said his daughter Pranati is one of the aspiring candidates for the assembly elections from Solapur. "It is up to the high command to give her a ticket," he said.