Nainital, Sep 24 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday categorically ruled out appointing a deputy prime minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"There is not going to be a deputy prime minister, I am saying so categorically," Gandhi said.

Both she and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were addressing a joint press conference on the concluding day of the two-day Congress chief ministers' conclave here.

Media reports had suggested that Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee could be appointed as deputy prime minister and could move to the home ministry as both Gandhi and the prime minister were reportedly not happy with the performance of present incumbent Shivraj Patil.

Reiterating confidence in Manmohan Singh, whom she had named as prime minister after leading the party to a stunning victory in the 2004 general elections, Gandhi said: "I am absolutely satisfied with Manmohan Singh."

"I am satisfied with the performance of the government," she said replying to a question on how she rated the performance of the 27-month-old UPA government and the prime minister.

She further said: "I don't think there is a need for course correction. We are working according to the promises we have made in the Congress party manifesto and the Common Minimum Programme (CMP, the agenda for governance) which we worked out with the coalition partners."