"If I had been consulted I could have given some advice (to Fernandes). It is not that I wanted to continue as a minister. This could have been done gracefully," he told reporters.

He said he never had any inkling of what was to come as Fernandes, who as leader of JD(U) was dealing with the Prime minister on ministerial berths for constituent MPs.

Stating that he had never sought any office in his long political life spanning over four decades, Hegde said, "I am not enamoured of office."Asked to confirm reports that he was being offered the post of Planning Commission deputy chairman, he shot back saying, "I am not going to take any position."