The Minister, who had readied copies of the proforma of his assets to be distributed to the media, was told to hold on just half an hour before his press conference slated for 3 p.m.

Patil had written to Prime Minister AB Vajpayee yesterday enclosing a statement of all immovable property, the value of shares and debentures, cash holdings and jewellery owned by him and members of his family. He was the first to implement the provisions of the code of conduct for ministers adopted by the Cabinet on January 24, 1992. He had also informed Vajpayee of his intention to disclose the details to the Press today.

The Minister was told that what he was doing was good but was advised that it would be better if all the ministers belonging to the BJP did so collectively.

The last-minute call from the BJPbosses put Patil in a tight corner as he had sent out invitations for the press conference specially called to make his assets public. With virtually no time to inform the media about the change in plans, he was forced to go ahead with the press conference where he had to face a barrage of posers from journalists. Asked why he was not making his assets public, Patil found in Vajpayee's absence in the Capital a convenient excuse. He said that he had to talk to the Prime Minister before doing so.

The Minister, a farmers' leader from Karnataka known for his honesty and a clean public life, described the issue of declaration of assets of ministers a sensitive issue ``especially because we are running a coalition government.'' ``If anybody thinks I am going to be a hero by declaring my assets in public, that is not the case,'' he remarked. Patil also said that he had declared his assets through an affidavit in court prior to the Lok Sabha elections. ``The affidavit is a public document and anybody can get a copyof it,'' he said. More than Patil's embarrassment, his move has put the BJP in a spot. Some BJP ministers are said to be not too enthusiastic about making their assets public although the Cabinet had discussed the proposal.