India expands number of ministers, allies come in

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday named 59 new ministers, including 14 of the cabinet rank, as he brought key allies into the government after his resounding general election victory.

No portfolios had yet been allotted to the new ministers.

Singh named three lawmakers from the southern DMK party and one from the National Conference party in his cabinet, boosting the stability of the coalition.

The DMK had refused to join the government after differences with Singh's Congress party over ministerial posts and had offered its 18 lawmakers as outside support to the coalition in parliament.