New Delhi, May 16
DMK President K. Karunanidhi today gave positive signals of joining the Congress-led government at the Centre. Signalling a climbdown from yesterday’s position, he indicated that his party would join the government but needed more time to reconsider the issue.
Talking to reporters after his meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he disclosed that he had handed over to the Congress President a letter of support of 16 party MPs addressed to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Observing that Ms Gandhi had requested him to participate in the government, he said he had sought more time to think over the issue.
He said that besides repeal of POTA and the
declaration of Tamil as a classical language, the DMK also wants an immediate resolution of the Cauvery water dispute and abrogation of Cenvat.
Interestingly, former Prime Minister V.P. Singh, who enjoys good equation with Mr Karunanidhi from the days of his government, is also playing an important role in persuading the DMK chief to join
the government.
After his meeting with the DMK chief, Mr Singh confirmed to reporters he and Ram Vilas Paswan had both appealed to Mr Karunanidhi to reconsider his party’s decision on not joining the government as their
participation would give it more stability.
Regarding the possibility of his participation in the coalition government, Mr Karunanidhi said, “I did not say I will not join. It may take a few weeks or a few months to decide”.
On other parties being part of the new ministry, he said “We fought the elections together and it was for each party to take a view on it”. Asked how the Cauvery water crisis could be resolved, Karunanidhi said the Centre should speak to the concerned chief ministers first to find a solution.
The DMK chief had only yesterday said that the party’s working committee had decided against being part of the government.
Observing that Karunanidhi wanted little more time to decide on the issue, Mr V.P. Singh said, “I am quite confident that the time should not be very long. I am hopeful that the decision will be positive”.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss, an ally of DMK, has already announced that his party would be part of the Congress-led coalition.
