LUCKNOW, NOV 22: Faced with mounting pressure from allies over alleged `disparity' in portfolio allocation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta today said he would make minor changes in their portfolios."There is no danger to my government over the issue of distribution of portfolios and I am ready to make minor changes to satisfy the allies", he told mediapersons here after a cabinet meeting was put off in the wake of boycott threat by the allies.Gupta, however, ruled out expansion of his ministry to tide over the present crisis saying there was no scope for it and expressed confidence that the issue would be solved through discussion with the partners.State BJP allies - Loktantrik Congress Party, Jantantrik Bahujan Samaj Party and Janata Dal (R) - yesterday decided not to assume office to protest "discrimination in allocation of portfolios".The CM said while some ministers belonging to the BJP had offered to relinquish their charge to satisfy the allies, he was not ready to make majorchanges in ministry."The distribution of portfolios is more or less the same as that in the erstwhile Kalyan Singh government," he said adding that allies have not been undermined in any manner."Some portfolios held by BJP ministers have been given to members of coalition partners," he added.He also said the "dissatisfied members had so for not told him about their reservation" and added that he was ready to solve their problems through dialogue.Terming the "pressure tactics" of the allies as a "political move", Gupta said some statements are made due to party compulsions.Gupta said he had distributed portfolios on the basis of his discussions with the allies but added that their views during these discussions were mere suggestions and not decisions.He also claimed that the first cabinet meeting of the new government slated for today was not postponed due to allies' threat to boycott it saying it was done only to give the ministers more time to understand their new departments."Thecabinet meeting would now be held on November 26after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to Lucknow on November 25", he added.
