Nov. 13: The Congress is mounting pressure on the DMK chief, Mr M. Karunanidhi, to agree to drop the controversial Union telecom minister, Mr A. Raja, from the Union Cabinet on the 2G Spectrum allocation issue.
The controversy has united the Opposition and isolated the DMK at the Centre. While the Congress is in no mood to defend Mr Raja and is guarded on continuing the alliance with the DMK, it is also sending out a clear signal to its ally that its options are open.
The message is loud and clear: the Congress is not depending on the DMK to run the Centre and can look for other parties for support if the Karunanidhi-led party leaves the UPA.
Echoing the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s Friday statement, the Congress on Saturday said the DMK is its partner “as of now” but, significantly, added it was difficult to say what would happen in future.
“It is very difficult to say what will happen in future. But, as of now, we are in alliance with the DMK,” the party spokesperson, Mr Shakeel Ahmed, said while replying to a question on whether the Congress would rule out any alliance with the AIADMK in the future after Ms Jayalalithaa’s offer of support to the UPA government if it drops Mr Raja.
The PM is expected to consult the Congress leadership on the issue.