Chennai: Cut up with the portfolios allotted to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Ministers, the party has decided not to assume office till "the mistakes are rectified", DMK president M Karunanidhi said tonight (May 23, 2004).

In a statement issued beyond mid-night, he said some days ago, certain portfolios were promised for DMK MPs (Members of Parliament) and a letter to this effect was given to DMK by Congress leader Janardhan Reddy.

"But the portfolios announced tonight went contrary to the assurances given in the letter," he said, adding DMK has therefore decided that its ministers will not assume their office till these mistakes were corrected.

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In the union council of ministers, DMK has three cabinet ministers and four ministers of State out of 12 berths secured by the State.

The three cabinet ministers are T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran and A Raja. S S Palani Manickam, S Raghupathi, K Venkatapathi, and Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan are Ministers of State.

In the allocation of portfolios today, T R Baalu has obtained the portfolio of Road Transport and Highways, A Raja, Environment and Forests, Dayanidhi Maran, Communication and IT, Palani Manickam, Commerce and Industry, Raghupathi, Home affairs, Venkatapathi, law and justice, Jagadeesan, Social Justice and Empowerment.