DMK decided on Raja after Congress assurance on UPA

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The Congress might have got rid of the DMK’s A. Raja as telecom minister after he became a huge liability for it in the light of revelations that he allegedly caused looses of `1.76 lakh crores in the 2G spectrum allocation. However, it has now emerged that before Mr Raja’s ouster, his jittery party secured an assurance from the Congress that it would not be booted out from the UPA in the aftermath of his exit.

This assurance was probably extracted after AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa dropped a bombshell by publicly announcing that she would come to the rescue of the UPA should it decide to dump Mr Raja and the DMK. This tactical move of the AIADMK had emboldened the Congress and intimidated the DMK, revealed a Congress functionary.
On Monday, leader of the AIADMK in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Maitreyan, said, “Raja should be arrested immediately. He and other officials involved in the scam should be interrogated. A joint parliamentary probe (JPC) should be conducted into the entire affair.”
Now, despite the embarrassment of its partyman being forced to resign from the Union Cabinet, the DMK is also demanding that it be given an equally “heavy” portfolio in the PM’s council of ministers. This demand is said to be under the “active consideration of the Congress high command”. Three-time Lok Sabha MP A.K.S. Vijayan, who is representing Nagapattinam in the current LS, is said to be the frontrunner for a Cabinet berth from the DMK. A dalit like Mr Raja, the final decision on whether he will get a Cabinet berth will be taken by party leader M. Karunanidhi.
Despite being cornered, Mr Raja found unqualified support in his party, with fellow MP Kanimozhi saying, “I do not think Raja has been found guilty. He has resigned from the post because the DMK wants Parliament to function.” Senior leader T.R. Baalu, referring to Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal getting the telecom portfolio, said, “It’s only a stopgap arrangement.” Party sources said that is not possible for Ms Kanimozhi to fill the vacant slot as that would lead to increased criticism that the family is over and above the party.
As for T.R. Baalu, “Thalaivar is not keen on rewarding him,” said a leader on condition of anonymity.