Union home minister P Chidambaram is most likely to head a reconstituted group of ministers (GoM) that will look into the matters relating to spectrum auction in the country, according to R Chandrashekhar, telecom secretary, department of telecommunications.

The move comes after agriculture minister Sharad Pawar announced that he is stepping down from the post of the chairman. Pawar was to head a reconstituted Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) that will take decisions on several matters linked to the auction of spectrum. Mr. Pawar had replaced Pranab Mukherjee, who has resigned from the post of Finance Minister to contest the presidential elections.

The union cabinet had earlier deferred a decision on the reserve price for the 2G spectrum auction as the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) meeting to discuss the matter was postponed indefinitely. Besides decision on base or reserve price, the EGoM might also discuss the possibility of mortgaging spectrum by the telecom companies for obtaining loans and financial assets.

The Supreme Court has set a deadline of 31 August for completing the 2G spectrum auction, which is required following scrapping of the 122 licences in February. However, as the key EGOM has been deferred, the decision of the reserve price is unlikely soon. This indicated that the government is likely to miss the deadline for the auction of the 2G spectrum.

Chidambaram appointment is controversial given allegations against him in the spectrum auction scandal, but as there are very few leaders with the knowledge of telecom industry, experts say that he was the best choice for the government.