<p>The indications of the second phase of swearing-in taking place on Thursday came after a Congress core group meeting chaired by party President Sonia Gandhi here on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The meeting, which was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, political secretary to the Congress president Ahmed Patel, discussed threadbare allocation of ministerial berths and portfolios.</p>.<p>Sources said issues related to allocation of ministerial berths and portfolios have been sorted out with all allies.</p>.<p>There was speculation that Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee wanted eight ministerial berths -- one Cabinet and seven Ministers of State -- against the seven -- one Cabinet and six MoS -- already allocated to her party.</p>.<p>However, sources said there were no issues with TMC.</p>.<p>NCP leader Praful Patel will retain Civil Aviation, the sources said after the meeting.</p>.<p>Even in Congress, there have been pulls and pressures over the ministerial berths and portfolios, but sources said such matters have been addressed.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on Monday had a four-hour-long meeting to discuss expansion of the council of ministers which was initially expected today.</p>
<p>The indications of the second phase of swearing-in taking place on Thursday came after a Congress core group meeting chaired by party President Sonia Gandhi here on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The meeting, which was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, political secretary to the Congress president Ahmed Patel, discussed threadbare allocation of ministerial berths and portfolios.</p>.<p>Sources said issues related to allocation of ministerial berths and portfolios have been sorted out with all allies.</p>.<p>There was speculation that Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee wanted eight ministerial berths -- one Cabinet and seven Ministers of State -- against the seven -- one Cabinet and six MoS -- already allocated to her party.</p>.<p>However, sources said there were no issues with TMC.</p>.<p>NCP leader Praful Patel will retain Civil Aviation, the sources said after the meeting.</p>.<p>Even in Congress, there have been pulls and pressures over the ministerial berths and portfolios, but sources said such matters have been addressed.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on Monday had a four-hour-long meeting to discuss expansion of the council of ministers which was initially expected today.</p>