Though Deshmukh said that he has ``postponed'' his official visit till June in view of several invitations from a large number of Maharashtrians settled there, the fact is quite different. Mantralaya sources told The Financial Express that the ministry clearance was not received till Thursday and hence there was no choice but to drop the tour.

Deshmukh was keen to meet World Bank president James D Wolfensohn eventhough he was not very particular about attending the World Community Cities Congress convened by the World Bank. However, despite repeated calls and request letters from Mantralaya, it did not receive favourable response from the WB president's office.

Indian Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra, in a recent communication to state chief secretary Arun Bongirwar, is believed to have expressed his reservations about Maharashtra chief minister attending the World Community Cities Congress. Chandra has reportedly told the state chief secretary that the conference was not of that importance for the chief minister to attend eventhough government officials can participate in the deliberations. It is likely that principal secretary for the state urban development department Suresh Joshi and Mumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner K Nalinakshan will attend the WB meet.

The worsening water scarcity in various parts of Maharashtra also made Deshmukh to cancel his trip. His counterpart in Gujarat Keshubhai Patel had come under severe attack for his US visit, especially when the state was reeling under worst drought conditions.