Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s move to go ahead with the Cabinet reshuffle sent a clear signal to the DMK that the Centre was not willing to go for any compromise on the issue of corruption. Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee during his recent visit to Chennai had asked DMK chief M. Karunanidhi to decide on the replacement for the textile minister Dayanidhi Maran, who was asked to resign following his alleged involvement in the spectrum scam.
Even as the sulking DMK chief refused to participate in the Cabinet reshuffle, the Prime Minister decided not merely to go ahead, but also added the textile ministry to commerce minister Anand Sharma’s portfolio. HRD minister Kapil Sibal continued to hold the charge of communications. Dr Singh also declared that this was the last reshuffle before the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.
However, others felt that the government will still not like to “junk” the DMK with 18 MPs in its kitty and two Cabinet berths could still be given to them in time to come. The Prime Minister also said that two berths have been kept for the DMK. The lone DMK Cabinet minister in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet is Mr M.K. Alagiri. Besides him, the DMK has four ministers of state, S.S. Palanimanickam, D. Napolean, S. Jagatrakshakan and S. Gandhiselvan. An effort was made by Mr Karunanidhi to push Mr T.R. Baalu in, but that was rejected by the Prime Minister.
A section in the Congress, however, is in favour of the DMK “quitting on its own”, sources disclosed.
“It would be better for the government, if DMK quits UPA on its own,” a Congress functionary said. It was argued that the government will be able to garner “enough support to survive, since none of the political outfits want a mid-term poll”.
A back channel is also in constant touch with the AIADMK, sources disclosed.
However, the July 23 meet of the DMK at Coiambatore will assume significance, since the outfit will take a hard look at its relationship with the Congress.