New Delhi, May 23: A last minute request from the Congress to the PMK to give up its claim for health portfolio is understood to have delayed finalisation of portfolio allocation today. Sources said that a Congress emissary had approached PMK chief S Ramdoss to reconsider the claim for health portfolio which the party wanted for its nominee Anbumani Ramdoss, who was sworn in as a cabinet minister yesterday.

But, the PMK supremo expressed a firm no to the request, the sources said adding, however, the issue has been sorted out.
It was understood that congress wanted the health portfolio for Lok Janashakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

Paswan, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning, told reporters that everything has been sorted out.

Bureau Report