Allies want more berths, PM-Prez meet cancelled

New Delhi, May 21: The PM-President meet scheduled to happen on Thursday, May 21 has been cancelled. The meeting has been deferred as the list of Council of Ministers is not finalised yet.

The reelected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was scheduled to meet the President Pratibha Patil on Thursday, May 21 at 10:30 AM. The meeting is expected to take place later in the day as the some of the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) allies are bargaining for more berths in the Council of Ministers.

The M Karunanidhi-led DMK is pressurising the Congress for nine ministerial berths. Adding to this the Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee is reportedly insisting on getting more berths than the DMK.

Manmohan Singh had to meet the President on Thursday, May 21 in order to inform her about the size of the council of ministers along with providing the names and the portfolios.

The Prime Minister and his Council of Ministers are expected to be be sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, May 22.

OneIndia News