Indicating that the stand off between the Congress and the DMK over the number of cabinet berths could end soon, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Saturday said 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 TR Baalu and A Raja, who had been the target of some Delhi-based satellite television channels," he said.
He said the prime minister's statement had cleared the air on two DMK Central ministers.
The prime minister had on Friday described Baalu and Raja as "our honoured colleagues".
"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.
Singh 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 on Saturday morning continued his informal discussions with his senior party leaders on 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.
TR Baalu, A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran are the names doing the rounds for the cabinet berths from the party.
MK 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 AKS Vijayan for ministers of state.
