New Delhi: All seven Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Ministers in the Manmohan Singh Government are not taking charge of their Ministries today (May 24, 2004) in the wake of the Southern ally deciding against it till the "mistakes" in allocation of portfolios were "rectified".

"We are not taking charge today," senior DMK leader T R Baalu, who was allocated Road Transport and Highways, said.

Elections 2004
Political Parties in India

Party supremo M Karunanidhi had announced in Chennai yesterday that DMK had decided against its Ministers taking over charge as the portfolios announced for them went against the assurances given by senior Congress leader N Janardhan Reddy to DMK.

Reports had it that the party was peeved over not getting the Shipping and MoS Revenue portfolios as promised by the Congress which is leading the coalition Government.

DMK has seven Ministers in the Congress-led coalition Government with three of them - T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran (Communications and IT), and A Raja (Environment and Forest) - holding Cabinet rank.

The four Ministers of State are S S Palani Manickam (Commerce and Industry), S Raghupathi (Home Affairs), K Venkatapathi (Law and Justice) and Jagadeesan (Social Justice and Empowerment).