Shaken by the 2G spectrum shocks that saw two party seniors lose their jobs in the Union Cabinet, the DMK reportedly turned down the offer of berths as replacements for the resignation of Mr Dayanidhi Maran, and earlier of Mr A. Raja, when their names figured in the 2G scam.
DMK sources said party chief M. Karunanidhi conveyed this to Congress senior Pranab Mukherjee who met him at his residence here Saturday morning with an offer of berths from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
“Thalaivar told Pranab that the party would take a decision on this offer at our general council meeting (July 23-24) in Coim-batore,” a former DMK minister told this newspaper, pointing out that Mr Karunanidhi remained crestfallen over the spectrum case incarceration of daughter Kanimozhi. Besides, the majority view in the DMK is that the party should not seem to be in a hurry to grab the offer of berths at this juncture.
That Mr M.K. Stalin, the second-in-command, stayed away from the Pranab Mukherjee meet was an indication that the DMK is sulking. On the other hand, Mr Dayanidhi Maran made sure he was prominent in the photo frames alongside Mr Karunanidhi and the Congress guest, perhaps to send out the message that the DMK is backing him in his hour of crisis.
Emerging from the meeting, Mr Mukherjee told reporters that the Congress-DMK alliance would continue, and even be strengthened. He, however, parried a specific question on whether the issue of the DMK filling up its “vacancies” in the Cabinet was discussed with Mr Karunanidhi. “There is a lot of writing and speculation about whether the alliance between the Congress and DMK will continue or not. My respectful submission would be that the alliance is there, the alliance will continue, and it will be strengthened,” Mr Mukherjee told reporters.
Mr Mukherjee’s assertion may underline the Congress high command’s willingness to continue ties with the DMK, but opinion in the DMK is sharply divided over continuing the alliance and sending replacements for Mr Maran and Mr Raja in the Cabinet.
“Our leader has not ruled out naming the DMK MPs for the Cabinet posts. But he bought time till the general council meeting due July 24,” remarked a former minister. Sources said Mr Karunanidhi expressed his displeasure at daughter Kanimozhi being in jail.
A senior DMK leader said a majority of the party cadres and second-rung leaders are for snapping ties with the Congress for not respecting its ally and not helping during the crisis.
Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs V. Narayanasamy and TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu accompanied Mr Mukherjee. Former DMK ministers Duraimurugan and K. Ponmudy were also present during the meeting.