DMK to join govt

NEW DELHI, Oct 12 (PTI) — The 12-MP strong DMK today decided to join the Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre making it clear that it had no demands on the number of ministers or any specific portfolios.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the DMK Parliamentary Party presided over by party President M. Karunanidhi here. General Secretary K. Anbazhagan was also present.

A resolution adopted at the meeting said the party had decided to join the government headed by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee who had pledged to work for a prosperous and strong India in which unity, equality and brotherhood among all sections would be upheld. The Prime Minister had also promised to promote social justice and federalism, it said.

Answering questions from reporters, Mr Karunanidhi said the majority view at the meeting was for joining the government.

Asserting that the DMK had not bargained for any portfolio or the number of ministers, he said: "We have given the names of all 18 MPs (six from the Rajya Sabha) to the Prime Minister leaving it to him to decide who he wants to choose", he said.

Asked specifically whether the DMK had demanded finance portfolio, he said he had never made such a demand and added there was already a Finance Minister who had also won the elections and the DMK would not like to embarrass anyone.

To another question, Mr Karunanidhi said perhaps the Prime Minister would consult him before choosing the ministers of the DMK.

Asked whether the DMK favoured proportional representation for the party in the Cabinet, he said everything had been left to the Prime Minister but he believed that the DMK would be given its due in accordance with its strength.

Asked how long the NDA Government would last, the Chief Minister shot back "it is like asking on the marriage day when are you going to divorce".

He said though there could be differences and contradictions among the various constituents, all parties in the NDA were bound by commonly accepted programmes. "I am sure no differences will arise within the NDA", he said.

Asked whether the DMK, like Ms Jayalalitha, would demand a package for Tamil Nadu from the Centre, he said: "I will not demand like the AIADMK but we will ask for the state."

To a question whether corruption cases against Ms Jayalalitha would be expedited because of election verdict, he said the cases were initiated because of the mandate of people in the 1996 assembly elections. The question of quickening or slowing down the process was in the hands of legal process.

Asked about Mr Jayalalitha’s claim that the AIADMK was the single largest party and that the DMK’s victory was due to electoral alliance, that too only in northern parts of the state, Mr Karunanidhi said the AIADMK had also entered into a poll tie-up with others and such statements were made to enthuse cadres.

The DMK leader declined to comment on the Telugu Desam Party’s decision not to join the government.

To a question, he said he was encouraged by the statement of Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna on the Cauvery waters issue and hoped the problem would be resolved amicably.

On the multi-disciplinary monitoring agency (MDMA) probe as a follow up of Jain Commission findings, he said the DMK had nothing to fear and it was not worried about it.

About Sonia Gandhi’s observations that the Congress had some problem with the DMK because of the Jain Commission findings, he said she must have made this remark based on wrong advice.

Mr Murasoli Maran will be the leader of the DMK Parliamentary Party and Mr T.R. Balu the party's Whip in the Lok Sabha it was decided unanimously at meeting. The DMK has 12 members in the Lok Sabha and six in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr C. Kuppuswamy has been chosen the party's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, while Mr C. Vidudalia Virumbi will be its leader in the Rajya Sabha. Mr V.P. Duraiswamy is the deputy leader in the Upper House and Mr C.P. Thirunavukarasu the Whip.

Mr Agniraj will be the treasurer of DMK's Parliamentary Party.

DMK General Secretary K. Anbazhagan was also present at the meeting.