It’s 3+1+3 for DMK

With time running out and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting them to agree to his “reasonable” formula, it is becoming clear that the DMK will join the UPA government at the centre.

DMK president M Karunanidhi’s main concern is balancing his share of ministerial berths — 3 cabinet rank, 1 minister of state with independent charge, and 3 ministers of state (MoS) as suggested by the Congress — between his family and the party.

He, however, has suggested the inclusion of two party leaders (TR Baalu and A Raja) and one of his family members (second son MK Azhagiri) as cabinet ministers, while his last daughter Kanimozhi (a Rajya Sabha member) will take the independent MoS charge. He wants the three MoS posts to go to SS Palanimanickam (previously MoS finance), AKS Vijayan, TKS Elangovan or Helen Davidson. The Congress’ Tamil Nadu point man Ghulam Nabi Azad has ruled out any visit to Chennai for further negotiations, and this has put additional pressure on the DMK to agree to the PM’s latest formula.

“The DMK has no choice but to accept this formula as the Congress is in the driver’s seat. Further, the DMK is dependent on the Congress in the state too, and the two allies need to stay together without making a big hue and cry as that would give the opposition a stick to beat them with,” DMK party sources told DNA.

A key issue is that Congress’ favourite, Dayanidhi Maran, who, according to DMK sources Rahul Gandhi is keen on, won’t find a place in the centre. While Dayananidhi Maran, the son of Karunanidhi’s nephew (sister’s son), the late Murasoli Maran, is said to be okay with Karunanidhi’s above formula, party sources feel that the Congress may not be too happy. The PM, however, is reported to have said that he has no objections to Baalu and Raja being in the cabinet.

The initial hitch for the DMK was that the PM and Rahul Gandhi strongly opposed the inclusion of Baalu and Raja, both of whom were cabinet ministers in the previous ministry. They were in charge of the ‘plum’ surface transport (including shipping) and telecom portfolios, and both are said to have allowed large-scale and open corruption.

According to Delhi media circles, the acronym DMK was being expanded as “Delhi Money for Karunanidhi”. Despite the strong opposition to Baalu and Raja, Karunanidhi is reported to be backing them solidly because of their total loyalty to him. Following intense confabulations with everyone involved Karunanidhi is reported to have suggested the formula of two senior party leaders and Azhagiri for the cabinet posts.

This is expected to create problems in terms of portfolios as the Congress “has reserved” the IT & Telecom portfolio for Dayanidhi Maran.

Initially, the Congress was keen on only 2 cabinet, 1 minister of state with independent charge, and 3 MoS portfolios for the DMK, with the rider that both Baalu and Raja should be kept out of the ministry. With the PM now climbing down to accommodate one more cabinet minister along with Baalu and Raja, Karunanidhi seems to be left with no choice but to accept the formula.

All top leaders are refusing to comment as they want the issue of portfolios to be sorted out and accepted by the Congress before making any solution public. The chief minister only issued an official statement accusing the national media of trying to drive a wedge between the Congress and the DMK.

Senior Congress leaders told DNA that the offer of three cabinet berths had been made with a proviso, that the DMK would neither get the Surface Tranport Ministry nor the Communications Ministry. Congress  interlocutors said that if the DMK agreed to the offer, they would be given  three cabinet berths — information technology, heavy industries and chemicals and fertilizers — and some ministers of state.
(With inputs from Javed Ansari)