if Sharad Pawar wanted to take the nation's attention away from the looming drought with his pullout drama, the Congress is one up on him. The willy Maratha is now made the head the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought the prime minister constituted on Monday.

The EGoM will  meet on Tuesday to review the monsoon situation, as 22 percent deficit rains so far have affected sowing of kharif crops, particularly coarse cereals.

"I have planned EGoM on drought on coming Tuesday,"  agriculture minister Pawar said.

The EGoM is authorised to review the situation and take "quick and timely decisions" on policy and other matters for effective management of drought. Pawar, who joined office today after issues related to a week-long stand-off between the Congress and his party NCP were sorted out, said the ministry is collecting details from states on the impact of poor rains.

Other union ministers who are members of the GOM are P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mukul Roy and Sushil Kumar Shinde, while special invitees are Montek Singh Ahluwalia , Namo Narain Meena and K V Thomas.