New Delhi: Nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar has resigned as the chairman of the board of governors of IIT Bombay apparently because of differences with the HRD Ministry over selection of some IIT directors. Kakodkar, whose tenure was supposed to come to an end in May this year has, however, agreed to continue till that period after being persuaded by HRD minister Smriti Irani, who had a long telephonic conversation with him last evening, sources in the ministry said..

"I have put down my papers because I want to move ahead," Kakodkar said but refused to comment on queries whether differences had cropped up between him and the minister over selection of the directors.

Significantly, his move came ahead of a crucial meeting of search-cum-selection committee to select the directors of IIT Patna, Bhubaneshwar and Ropar. The committee is chaired by Irani and Kakodkar is one of the members of the panel. The committee is slated to meet on March 22. Kakodkar's resignation came two months after IIT Delhi director R Shevgaonkar had stepped down from his post in December last year which had triggered a controversy amid reports that there were sharp differences between him and the ministry over certain issues. His resignation is yet to be accepted.

According to sources in the HRD ministry, there was consensus on the choice of a new director for IIT Patna and Bhubaneshwar but the same was not in the case of IIT Ropar. About 37 candidates have been called for a fresh round of interview in the ministry. Kakodkar is understood to be not in agreement with the ministry over the selection of the candidates.