Hard-to-please DMK chief keeps PM guessing

Chennai: Indicating that the stand-off between the Congress and the DMK over the number of Cabinet berths could end soon, DMK Chief M Karunanidhi said on Saturday the Prime Minister's remarks on the issue of induction of two ministers from his party has “cleared the air”.

Responding to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's invitation to the DMK to participate in the Ministry, Karunanidhi, in a three line statement, thanked the Prime Minister and said, "Our high level action committee will soon take a decision”.

"We thank Manmohan Singh's clarification on the DMK ministers in his previous Cabinet - T R Baalu and A Raja - who had been the target of some Delhi-based satellite television channels," the statement read.

The Prime Minister had on Friday described Baalu and Raja as “honoured colleagues" of the UPA. "There is no question about having any reservation," he had told reporters at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on being asked about the two DMK leaders.

Manmohan had also hoped that DMK, which had announced that it was supporting the government from outside, will "see reason" and reconsider its decision.

"Whatever UPA offered (to DMK) is reasonable. They (DMK) are our respected colleagues. We still hope in the next few days they will reconsider their decision," the Prime Minister had said.

Karunanidhi continued his informal discussions with his senior party leaders on Saturday regarding Congress party's reported offer of three Cabinet Ministers and four Ministers of state in a bid to end the deadlock between the two parties on ministerial berths and portfolios.

T R Baalu, A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran are the names doing the rounds for the Cabinet berths from the party.

M K Azhagiri, Karunanidhi's son and Kanimozhi, DMK chief's daughter are being tipped for ministers of state with independent charges and MPs S Jagatrakshakan and A K S Vijayan for Ministers of state

Meanwhile in Delhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said there were no differences with the DMK and expressed hope that the key ally would soon join the government.

On the differences between Congress and DMK, the Union Minister, who is also in-charge of Tamil Nadu in the Congress, told reporters it was pure speculation.

He said DMK was holding consultations within the party and expressed hope it will be joining the government soon.

Azad said nothing should be read between the lines and reminded that during the last government formation in 2004, DMK took nine days to decide on joining the government.

"DMK is our pre-poll ally and it is definitely an important partner of Congress in government formation," Azad said.

While he did not spell out Congress' offer to the DMK, saying negotiations were still on, sources in the party say DMK has been offered three Cabinet and four minister of state berths in the Union Council of Ministers.

When asked whether the party has any reservations about the names forwarded by DMK, Azad said the negotiations have not reached that stage.