DMK not for Cabinet berths

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UPA’s major ally the DMK with 18 MPs on Sunday made it clear that it will not nominate any party representatives to the Union Ministry to fill vacancies in case of a Cabinet reshuffle.

“If there are any changes in the Union Cabinet following a reshuffle, the DMK will not nominate anyone,” DMK president M. Karunanidhi said putting to rest speculation that his party may nominate its representatives to be inducted into the ministry in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle. The DMK is now the largest ally of the UPA following the exit of Trinamool Congress.

His averment comes on the eve of party’s executive committee meeting and days after minister of state in PMO V. Narayansamy called on him as the Prime Minister’s emissary offering to induct DMK MPs into the Cabinet, which Mr Karunanidhi had purportedly declined. The two posts fell vacant after the exit of former union ministers A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran over the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

“Whatever the changes in the Central government, there will not be anybody on behalf of DMK party becoming a Cabinet minister or minister of state,” he said.

In a question-answer statement here he said on reports of Tamils staging an agitation in Kilinochchi district of Sri Lanka on Sept. 27 demanding withdrawal of army, that this issue would be discussed during the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) meeting in Chennai on Oct. 3.

He said Tamil Nadu government should have taken up the power crisis issue with the Prime Minister or the power minister during the Sept.19 meeting of Cauvery River Water Authority and demanded additional power for the state from central grid.