New Delhi, May 22: After a marathon six-hour meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, which ended at 2 am, Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh was this morning finalising his Council of Ministers to be sworn-in at 5: 30 pm today. Rashtrapati Bhawan has still not been told about the number of ministers to be sworn-in but sources said that it could be 60, most of them from Congress and rest from the allies such as RJD, DMK, NCP, TRS, JMM and LJP.

Hours before the swearing-in, indications were that Pranab Mukherjee may get home portfolio, Natwar Singh External Affairs, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi parliamentary affairs with the likelihood of Manmohan Singh keeping the finance portfolio to himself for the time being, at least till he presents the United Progressive Alliance government's first budget.
There was no clarity about the portfolio that may be offered to RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav although reports persisted that he may get railways and even defence. It also is indicated that RJD with 21 MPs could get a total of three cabinet berths and as many minister of state posts.

When contacted by newspersons, Yadav declined to comment on allocation of portfolios and special package for Bihar saying "you please wait for allocation of portfolios".
DMK, with 15 MPs, is likely to get three cabinet berths including it and communications for Dayanidhi Maran, surface transport for T R Balu and environment and forest for a raja, party sources said.

Bureau Report