Against the backdrop of 'weak UPA' remarks by key coalition partner Sharad Pawar, prime minister Manmohan Singh has said the government's "cohesiveness" should not be undermined even as he admitted that "differences" are bound to be there in a coalition.

He insisted that government was functioning with the "coherence" required to carry out its mandate.

"We are in a coalition government. In a coalition government, there are bound to be differences," Singh said when referred to remarks by Agriculture Minister and NCP chief that the UPA-II was "weak" and the attitude of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on various issues.

"The real test is that we should not allow these differences to undermine cohesiveness of the government," the Prime Minister said last evening while interacting with accompanying journalists on board his special plane on his way back from Pretoria after a three-day visit.

He, however, added, "You have my assurance that despite different perspectives that various members of the coalition may have, managing the Cabinet of the UPA has never been a difficult task.

"Our government functions with coherence which it needs to carry out the mandate given by the people." .