New Delhi: Amid speculation that DMK would demand more berths in the Central cabinet boosted by its impressive show in Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday said he would discuss the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The DMK-led front won 28 of 40 seats, including one of Puducherry.
The Manmohan Singh ministry also had four members from Congress in Tamil Nadu and two from PMK who had resigned just before the polls after striking a pact with AIADMK-led Front.
The DMK's ministerial aspirants this time reportedly include Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri, who has made his electoral debut from Madurai, daughter Kanimozhi and grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran.
Sources tell CNN-IBN that DMK's Kanimozhi and Azhagiri will get Cabinet berths though former Communications and IT minister Dayanidhi Maran not likely to get a berth even though the party has asked for three cabinet berths.
The DMK is also attempting to give a Minister of State status to TKS Elangovan - who is the DMK MP fron the North Chennai constituency - as well as Helen David. The party is also pushing for T R Balu to me made the Speaker of the new Lok Sabha.
Armed with the DMK executive resolution authorising him to take a decision on the participation in the ministry, Karunanidhi would be leaving for the national Capital on Tuesday.
Asked whether he would demand representation to women in the DMK quota, he said an answer to this question could be found only after his meeting with Gandhi.
He said his government would continue to extend its to the new UPA government.
On the Sri Lankan issue, the DMK asked the Centre to put more pressure on the island government to find a permanent solution immediately to the ethnic strife.
The Government should prevail upon Sri Lanka to protect the rights of Tamils and take measures for their peaceful existence, a resolution passed at the Executive meeting said in the wake of the Lankan army closing in on the last foothold of the LTTE.
The plight of Sri Lankan Tamils had emerged as one of the key issues in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls with bitter rivals AIADMK and DMK, both favouring formation of a separate Tamil Eelam.
Asked about the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project, Karunanidhi said it would be implemented at any cost, despite opposition.
Asked whether Local Administration Minister M K Stalin, who worked hard for the DMK's victory at the polls, would get a Deputy Chief Minister berth, Karunanidhi said "he will not ask for it.We will decide if he asks".
OTHER MINISTER ASPIRANTS
The Congress is facing its first challenge in government formation. A day after the party was unanimously voted in to power in India, the members of the party are divided over giving the Finance Ministry to Montek Singh Ahluwalia. While Montek is a favourite as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, many in the party are opposed to a non-politician in an important cabinet post.
Other possibilities that are being considered for the post of finance minister are Kamal Nath and Pranab Mukherjee.
Meanwhile, all eyes are also on Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and whether he will take up a Cabinet berth. However, sources say that the scion of the Gandhi family is likely to say a firm no to a Cabinet berth.
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There has been buzz that he could have been offered the HRD or Rural Development ministries. The Prime Minister as well as the party core group and the Congress Working Committee have lauded Rahul Gandhi on his efforts for leading the Congress to a stunning victory in General Elections 2009.
Sources also say that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is also unlikely to be made a minister in the next Manmohan Singh cabinet. Sources indicate Mamata wants to continue her focus on West Bengal, but could ask for portfolios for two of her party members. The Trinamool Congress has 20 MPs and the party is sending its letter of support to the UPA on Monday night with its Rajya Sabha MP, Mukul Roy.
"There is no need to talk about which ministry will we get and how many ministries will we get. This hardly matters to us. We are public representitives. We will raise our views for the people and whenever that developement will arise I will let you know. We are transparent and we never ask anything from anyone. There are no terms and conditions as this is not a deal. This is not a joint venture, this is a public industry," Mamata Banerjee said.
On the other hand, it hasn't taken long for JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy to ditch the Third Front and announce unconditional support to the UPA. He has admitted his meeting with the Congress President on the eve of the fifth phase of voting and said it was an indication that his party was going to support UPA.
"I already gave up my inclination when I met the Congress President before the results of the elections. I am in touch with UPA since day one. We will definitely give unconditional support to the new government," Kumaraswamy stated.
Meanwhile, the old war-horse and former HRD minister Arjun Singh has staked claim for a cabinet berth claiming credit for party's good performance. Arjun Singh said that he is willing to continue as minister.
He said the 27 per cent reservation extended for the OBCs in higher education during his tenure as HRD minister helped Congress in the election. Before the elections, Arjun Singh had aired his anguish over denial of Lok Sabha tickets to his children and had in fact hit out at the party saying he was shocked to see the treatment meted out to him.
"Whether I will become a cabinet minister or not will depend on the PM and Congress party," Arjun Singh stated.
However, sources say that Arjun Singh and former Minority Affairs minister A R Antulay may not get cabinet berths this time around.
Among the young leaders likely to have a cabinet role are Jitin Prasada, Sachin Pilot and Sandeep Dikshit. The cabinet also likely to see three Dalit leaders -- Mallikarjun Kharge, Meira Kumar and Sushil Kumar Shinde.
Kapil Sibal could be the HRD minister, according to sources while Anand Sharma could be Information and Broadcasting minister. Sources say will be a strong minority representation too in the form of Salman Khursheed and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Also, there could be a ministerial berth for Shashi Tharoor in the offing.
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