DMK to provide outside support to UPA government
DMK with 18 MPs was demanding 3 Cabinet portfolios, 2 Ministers of State with independent charge and 2 at the Ministers of State level. NC miffed with Congress
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: The DMK was unhappy with allocation of berths in the Manmohan Singh cabinet and hence decided to provide outside support to the UPA. Stuck by 'berth' pangs, the Congress was grappling with both DMK and Trinamool Congress who were demanding plum portfolios as Manmohan Singh gets ready to be sworn in tomorrow for a second consecutive term as Prime Minister.
DMK leader T R Baalu said, "Congress' proposal is not acceptable to us; there was no formula on establishment of government in 2004."
Baalu announced the breakdown of talks after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up DMK chief M Karunanidhi who conveyed his rejection of the Congress proposal.
Leaders of Congress and DMK had held a few rounds of talks to hammer out a mutually agreeable deal on the portfolios for DMK leaders.
On a day of conflicting reports, the DMK with 18 MPs, the third largest constituent in the UPA coalition, was said to be demanding three Cabinet portfolios, two Ministers of State with independent charge and two at the Ministers of State level.
DMK chief Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri, his grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran and T R Baalu are among the Cabinet probables from the party while his daughter Kanimozhi is among the likely candidates for the MOS slot.
Reports said the Congress was keen to give two Cabinet berths, four MOS slots including two with independent charge. Mediators were trying to work out the final modalities of an agreement.
However, among the 'big four' portfolios Finance is likely to go to Pranab Mukherjee, while Home and Defence would be retained by P Chidambaram and A K Antony. There is no finality about who will bag External Affairs for which names of Kamal Nath and Kapil Sibal are doing the rounds.
The UPA has the support of 322 MPs, including the 48 MPs from the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lending external support.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team of ministers will be administered oaths of office and secrecy by President Pratibha Patil tomorrow evening.
DMK leader T R Baalu said, "Congress' proposal is not acceptable to us; there was no formula on establishment of government in 2004."
Baalu announced the breakdown of talks after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up DMK chief M Karunanidhi who conveyed his rejection of the Congress proposal.
Leaders of Congress and DMK had held a few rounds of talks to hammer out a mutually agreeable deal on the portfolios for DMK leaders.
On a day of conflicting reports, the DMK with 18 MPs, the third largest constituent in the UPA coalition, was said to be demanding three Cabinet portfolios, two Ministers of State with independent charge and two at the Ministers of State level.
DMK chief Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri, his grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran and T R Baalu are among the Cabinet probables from the party while his daughter Kanimozhi is among the likely candidates for the MOS slot.
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Reports said the Congress was keen to give two Cabinet berths, four MOS slots including two with independent charge. Mediators were trying to work out the final modalities of an agreement.
However, among the 'big four' portfolios Finance is likely to go to Pranab Mukherjee, while Home and Defence would be retained by P Chidambaram and A K Antony. There is no finality about who will bag External Affairs for which names of Kamal Nath and Kapil Sibal are doing the rounds.
The UPA has the support of 322 MPs, including the 48 MPs from the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lending external support.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team of ministers will be administered oaths of office and secrecy by President Pratibha Patil tomorrow evening.
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