In the face of mounting criticism from across the political spectrum, “spectrum king” and Union telecom minister A. Raja has virtually ruled out stepping down from office amidst increasing demands for his removal.
There are indications that a decision on Mr Raja’s continuance in the Union Cabinet may be taken after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returns from Seoul. However, a section in the DMK revealed that the party was also toying with the option of a portfolio change for Mr Raja as part of a “face-saving formula”.
In the meantime, Mr Raja told reporters, when asked about his stepping down from the Union Cabinet, “The question does not arise at all. We will prove that everything has been done according to the law.”
Union law minister Veerappa Moily also came out in support of Mr Raja, saying the CAG report “is not final”. Mr Moily added, “You cannot call the CAG report an indictment. It is not a final report.” He maintained that the report has to be placed before Parliament and then the Public Accounts Committee “will scrutinise it”.
The DMK is also resorting to pressure tactics by summoning all its MPs to assemble in Chennai on Sunday to discuss the issue. The DMK high command is expected to formulate its strategy to deal with the situation in Chennai on Sunday.
DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter, Ms Kanimozhi, also went on record saying that “there is no pressure on the DMK-Congress alliance as both the parties realise the importance of the ties”.
In Chennai, Mr Karunanidhi jumped to the defence of Mr Raja by declaring, “He is not a criminal. He just went by the procedures set by his predecessors, Pramod Mahajan and Arun Shourie of the previous NDA government. When he has followed the rules, how can you say Raja flouted the rules?” He brushed aside the CAG indictment of the telecom minister, saying, “I know about the report. It has given adverse reports about all Prime Ministers and chief ministers.”
The Opposition, led by the BJP and the Left parties, however, are mounting pressure on the government to drop Mr Raja from the Union Cabinet.
However, with the Assembly elections just a few months away, the DMK, which has been putting up a brave front, is somewhat jittery over the issue.
A section in the DMK is of the opinion that the DMK would need Congress support to stay in power in the state. The Congress, sources said, has not taken AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa’s offer of support seriously. The AIADMK leader had offered the support of 18 MPs — nine from her own outfit, six from the RLD and three from the JD(S). A majority in the Congress though feel that “Jayalalithaa is not a reliable ally”.
However, officially, the Congress continued to remain evasive about Ms Jayalalithaa’s offer, saying, “It is her own opinion and we have no comment on it”.
A lot depends on what the observation of the Supreme Court will be on November 15 when the spectrum case comes up for hearing.