'DMK's continuation in ministry in PM's hands'

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Monday said his party's continuation in the Manmohan Singh ministry would depend on the prime minister's decision on allotting the portfolios promised to the party.

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He told reporters at the party headquarters in Chennai that the prime minister spoke to him in the afternoon and sought 10 days' time to resolve the matter.

"I will be happy if the mistakes are rectified before that," Karunanidhi said, adding his party's stand would, however, not threaten the stability of the government.

In a statement issued late on Sunday night Karunanidhi had asked his ministers to not take charge till the portfolios originally promised to the party were allotted.

"Some days ago, certain portfolios were promised for the DMK members of Parliament and a letter to this effect was given to the party by Congress leader Janardhan Reddy.

"But the portfolios announced have gone contrary to the assurances given in the letter," the statement said, adding, "the DMK has therefore decided that its ministers will not assume office till the mistakes are corrected"

On Monday, the DMK chief blamed a "coterie" around Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the prime minister for all that had happened. "It is better to identify the coterie and rectify the mistakes."

Karunanidhi said originally it was agreed that T R Baalu would be given surface transport along with shipping, while S S Palanimanickam would be minister of state in the finance ministry and S Raghupathy minister of state in the home ministry. "But that was not done," he said.