New Delhi, Jun 4 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday demanded resignation of union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar alleging that he had misled the nation about his interests relating to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"He should resign forthwith. If (he does) not, we demand stern action against Pawar from Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh)," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

A media report Friday said Pawar and his family members had 16 percent share in City Corporation which was one of the bidders for Pune IPL team.

Pawar said that Anirudh Deshpande, managing director of City Corporation, had made the bid for the team in his individual capacity.

Prasad said that Pawar's reasoning that company board had passed a resolution against involvement in the bid "was a lame excuse".

Prasad said the minister "has misrepresented to the country about his interests" concerning the IPL.

Demanding a probe into the matter, Prasad said Deshpande's plan to execute his bid by a different consortium comprising a Mumbai construction company, the Maharashtra Cricket Association and others was in violation of the company law.

The BJP leader demanded a joint parliamentary probe into IPL finances.

Pawar, who is also heads the Nationalist Congress Party, said Friday morning that no member of his family was part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams nor had it taken part in the bidding process.

"No member of my family is involved in any IPL team or in the bidding process or has taken interest in bidding," Pawar told reporters here.

The Pune IPL team franchise was won by the Sahara group.