Tags: Chennai , UPA , Congress , M Karunanidhi , DMK

Chennai: Upset over the portfolio allotment issue with the UPA, DMK chief M Karunanidhi is holding a meeting with his party members at his residence here on Saturday.

Karunanidhi is likely to decide on his party's stand of supporting the government.

Upset over the portfolio allotment by Congress Party, DMK chief M Karunaidhi did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of UPA government and went back to Tamil Nadu.


The DMK leader did not comment much on the status of the party's relationship with UPA. He said, ‘We will decide about it once I reach Tamil Nadu and meet my party members.'

It is worth mentioning here that DMK chief M Karunanidhi sought seven ministerial berths in the next government to be formed today. Same numbers of ministers were there in the last government. Congress considers DMK's demand unreasonable, which has been the cause of contention between the two parties. Congress sources revealed that the party is unwilling to offer anything more than 3 cabinet berths to DMK. Congress has given a clear ‘no arm-twisting' message to DMK. Congress has conveyed that the party is willing to concede three cabinet portfolios to the pre-poll ally including the Chemical and Fertilisers Ministry and Information Technology. The Congress is also willing to allow the DMK to pick a third portfolio from Labour, textile, heavy Industries and Small Scale Industries.

Karunanidhi on Tuesday reached Delhi along with his son M.K. Azhagiri, daughter Kanimozhi, grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran, a former telecommunications minister, and T.R. Baalu, also a former minister in the UPA government and met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh United Progressive Alliance's chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

There were 16 MPs of the party last time. This time 18 party candidates have secured victory and DMK is the third largest constituent in UPA coalition.


However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hopes that the party would reconsider its decision. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoped that DMK will reconsider its decision of not joining the government in the next few days as UPA has made a reasonable offer to the party.

Prime Minister spoke to the press after he took oath for a second successive term on Friday.

Singh said, ‘Whatever we offered to DMK is reasonable. They are our respected colleagues. We still hope in the next few days they will reconsider their decision.'

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