Janata Dal-United leader and Jharkhand Welfare Minister Ramesh Singh Munda on Saturday refused to take charge of his ministry until the party's state president Jaleswar Mahto was included in the 20-day-old Arjun Munda ministry.

Mahto was expected to figure in the ministry during its expansion.

"Till Mahto is taken into the ministry, I will not take charge. I will not hesitate to put in my papers either," the minister said.

Munda is tipped to be the JD-U's legislature party leader. He had demanded Mahto's inclusion on Friday too.

Earlier, Mahto expressed surprise at not being included in the Arjun Munda ministry.

"Our top leaders had finalised Ramesh Singh Munda and my names to be included during the March 29 ministerial expansion. Till 1710 IST, I was sure of my name being called out after Ramesh Singh Munda's,'' Mahto said.

Saying that he never hankered after the ministerial post, Mahto on Friday said the JD(U) was concerned about how the leadership's choice of candidates for representation in the Munda ministry was ignored.