New Delhi: In a bid to mollify Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 24, 2004) spoke to its supremo M Karunanidhi to sort out the issue of portfolio allocation to its Ministers, even as the Congress gave enough hints that all demands of the allies could not be met.

Singh's telephone call to the DMK supremo came amid hectic parleys between senior Congress leaders and DMK Minister Dayanidhi Maran to find a way out of the crisis in the wake of DMK Ministers not assuming charge, claiming they have not been given the promised portfolios.

Earlier, Maran and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, who is also All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu and senior party leaders, held talks with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister.

"There are so many allies and partners in a coalition. Everything of every partner cannot be met and this has got to be understood by all the allies," Nath told reporters after their meeting with the Prime Minister.

"In a coalition politics, it is natural that many things have to be harmonised. This (the DMK issue) is a minor matter. There is no harm in having a wish list. In an alliance you do have to have a give and take policy," he said.

Noting that the Congress has a very cordial tie up with DMK and it would continue, he said that one more round of talks would be held with the Southern ally and "we are moving in a right direction and we will find a solution".

All seven DMK Ministers in the Manmohan Singh Government did not take charge of their Ministries today in the wake of the Southern ally deciding against it till the "mistakes" in allocation of portfolios were "rectified".