The DMK took harsh step following the deadlock in talks with the Congress over seat-sharing for the April 13 elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
A statement issued by the DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi said “a high-level executive committee, led by him today resolved that under the circumstances, the DMK would withdraw from the Union Government while extending issue-based support to the UPA”.
The DMK has six ministers — M.K. Alagiri; Mr Dayanidhi Maran; S. S. Palanimanickam, S. Gandhiselvan, S. Jagathrakshakan, and D. Napolean. A. Raja, formerly the Union Telecommunications Minister, resigned from the Cabinet in November last year over controversy in the allocation of 2G licenses. He was subsequently arrested by the CBI. This had shaken relations between the Congress and the DMK, though both maintained the ties were normal.
The resolution by the DMK high-level committee followed a marathon minute meeting at the DMK party headquarters here. The large gathering of party workers reflected the mood within the party as they shouted slogans against the Congress.
Meanwhile, Senior DMK leader T R Baalu indicated that his party could review its decision to pull its ministers out of the Union Cabinet if the Congress relents on its stand over sharing of seats in the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi gave a guarded reaction on the development, keeping alive the hopes of a settlement on seat sharing even at this stage.
“There is no need to comment on it now” said Singhvi.
Mr Karunanidhi recounted the long negotiations with the Congress since February 20 on seat sharing. However, the continuously rising demand from the Congress on the number of seats and unilateral decision it had taken on the Assembly constituencies it would contest has caused widespread dissatisfaction in the DMK.
The party was worried that this attitude could affect the outcome of the elections itself. Mr Karunanidhi recalled that the Congress was given 48 seats in 2006.
Since then, the Congress had raised its demand to 60 seats to which the DMK had agreed. But, later, it demanded three more seats and also dictated the constituencies that it would contest from.
The Congress was peeved that the DMK finalised seat-sharing agreements with smaller parties such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK; 31 seats) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK; 10) even when talks with the Congress were on.
The AIADMK, DMK’s main opponent, last night announced an agreement with actor Vijayakanth of the DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam), and it is in talks with the two Left parties and Mr Vaiko of the MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) .
The DMK’s sudden action is unlikely to affect the stability of Congress-led coalition immediately as it has support of 310 MPs, including outside support from the SP, BSP and the RJD.