The inclusion of the name of his daughter Kanimozhi in the spectrum case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has jolted chief minister M. Karunanidhi and shocked his DMK party when, barely a fortnight from now, another critical event is readying to unfold: the result of the state Assembly election in which archrival Ms Jayalalithaa is stoutly challenging his bid to return to power.

While speculation grew on Sunday that the DMK could pull out its ministers from the Manmohan Singh government in the event of the CBI including Tamil Nadu chief minister M.

One more knot was added to the spectrum scam with the suicide of Sadiq Batcha, a close aide of A. Raja and also a key witness for the CBI probing the money trail in the multi-crore crime.

“Madam, you have not given us coffee,” DMK president M.

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said the Congress should seriously ponder whether it should continue in the company of the DMK which had delivered “the worst administration ever” in Tamil Nadu, even as she asserted that there was still time for realignment of forces in Tamil Nadu.