Chennai: Key UPA ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Sunday said that it would not nominate any party representative to the Union Ministry to fill vacancies in case of a Cabinet reshuffle. DMK chief M Karunanidhi put at rest any questions of inducting party MPs into the Ministry in a possible Cabinet reshuffle, saying the party would not nominate any candidate.
"If there are any changes in the Union Cabinet in a reshuffle, DMK will not nominate anyone," he said in party mouthpiece 'Murasoli'. The DMK is now the largest ally of the UPA with 18 MPs after the exit of Trinamool Congress.
Karunanidhi's statement comes five days after Minister ofState in PMO V Narayansamy called on him as the Prime Minister's emissary with the offer of induction of DMK MPs into the Cabinet. The DMK patriarch had reportedly turned down the offer.
The DMK's quota of two Cabinet portfolios are vacant after the exit of A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran over the 2G spectrum allocation scam. DMK, which lends crucial support to the UPA, has not been pressing for induction of its party men into the Cabinet.
Karunanidhi had given enough hints earlier when he said such issues are only discussed at the key decision-making bodies of the party like executive or general council.
Karunanidhi also criticised Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for not taking up Tamil Nadu's power shortage issue with the Prime Minister or the Power Minister during her visit to Delhi to take part in the September 19 meeting of Cauvery River Water Authority.
"The Chief Minister should have taken up the issue with the Prime Minister of Union Power Minister and demanded that the Centre supply additional power to the state from the Central grid. But she did not ask for it," he said.
On reports of Tamils staging an agitation in Kilinochchi district of Sri Lanka on September 27 demanding withdrawal of army, Karunanidhi said this issue would be discussed during the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) meeting in Chennai on October 3.
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