Congress likely to chair four Parliamentary panels including external affairs, agriculture

In a significant development over three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his third term, the deadlock over the formation of Departmentrelated Parliamentary Standing Committees appears to be nearing resolution.

Sources indicate that the Congress party has agreed to the government's offer to chair three panels in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha.

According to Opposition sources, the Congress is poised to lead the Standing Committees on External Affairs, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in the Lok Sabha.

In the Rajya Sabha, the party will likely chair the committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.