FRONT PAGE | Tuesday, May 19, 2009 | Email | Print | 
Non-performers may be kept out
J Gopikrishnan/Nidhi Sharma | New Delhi
Congress flexes muscles; DMK set to be hit
The Congress is reluctant to reward non-performing Ministers like TR Baalu and his controversial DMK colleague A Raja as the Dravidian party prepares to drive a hard bargain for important portfolios when party chief M Karunanidhi arrives in Delhi on Tuesday.
The DMK chief will call on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He will also attend the UPA meeting scheduled on Wednesday.
Sources said the Congress has informed the DMK leadership that the Prime Minister was reluctant to include TR Baalu and A Raja into his Cabinet. Baalu’s track record as the Minister for Surface Transport and Shipping was deplorable and Raja faced serious charges of irregularity in the spectrum allotment. The PM has reportedly asked the DMK leadership to suggest alternatives.
The DMK leadership may seek a Cabinet berth for its spokesman TKS Elangovan if the PM isn't ready to bring back Raja at all. To take revenge on the PMK, the DMK is also insisting on the Health portfolio handled by Anbumani Ramadoss. Senior DMK leaders say they are ready to withdraw claim on Telecom for the Health portfolio.
But sources said the Congress leadership has conveyed that the Health Ministry will go to Dr Farooq Abdullah. The Congress leadership has also reportedly said it has no objection in giving back the Telecom and IT portfolios to Dayanidhi Maran. The DMK has already named Baalu as the parliamentary party leader in the Lok sabha, a clear signal that he may not be made a Minister.
Prominent among those in the race for Cabinet posts are Karunanidhi's son MK Azhagiri, daughter Kanimozhi and grand-nephew Dayanidhi Maran. Sources said a section in the Karunanidhi's family was opposed to Maran becoming a Minister.
Strong objections were raised by Karunanidhi's second wife Rasathi and her daughter Kanimozhi against Maran. The same kind of opposition was building up against Kanimozhi from Karunanidhi's son Stalin and elder daughter MK Selvi.
Sources said the Congress leadership had no objection in offering ministerial berths to Azhagiri and Kanimozhi. The DMK is pressing for either MoS Power (independent charge) or Women and Child Welfare for Kanimozhi.
The DMK has also suggested the names of AKS Vijayan and Helen Davidson as Ministers of State. In this context, Vijayan is seen as a threat to Raja since both belong to the Dalit community. The DMK is adamant on getting the MoS Finance (Revenue) and Environment Ministry.
Sources said the DMK has a long wish list this time. Working on the logic that it has increased its tally from 16 to 18 since the last election, the party wants to capitalise on its gains. In 2004, it had three Cabinet Ministers and five Ministers of State. Now it wants at least seven Cabinet berths.
However, the Congress is in no mood to over-indulge its allies, including the DMK. Last time, when the Congress could not cross the 150 seat-mark, it had worked out a formula for giving Cabinet berths to its allies. For every 3.5-4 MPs, the allies would get one Cabinet berth. As the party has increased its tally to 206, it would wield more power and is likely to stand its ground on Cabinet berth and portfolio distribution.
Sources indicated that the Cabinet berth formula now favoured by the party was: One Cabinet berth for 6-7 ally MPs. "The good election show means that we would be able to stand our ground. The allies have little bargaining power. So far, except DMK, no ally has given any indication on Cabinet expectations," a senior Congress leader said.
The Independents, whose support will be sought to reach the 272-mark, would have to make do with charges of corporations.
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