DMK council authorizes party president to decide

From Gopal Ethiraj in Chennai

Chennai, 19 May, (Asiantribune.com): The DMK, which lead theM. Karunanidhi - Chief Minister and party president UPA alliance in Tamil Nadu, has authorized the Chief Minister and party president to decide about its participation in the new government at the Centre.

The executive council of the party met today and passed a resolution in this respect. The meeting also congratulated Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi for piloting the UPA to victory for a second successive term.

Later in the day, Karunanidhi has left for the capital to have discussions with the UPA leaders and he would decide about berths for DMK elected members in the Central cabinet.

The DMK also reiterated that the Centre should put more pressure on the Sri Lankan government to find a permanent solution immediately to the ethnic strife in the island.

Another resolution adopted at the meeting said the Central government should prevail upon Sri Lanka to protect the rights of the Tamils and take measures for their peaceful existence.

The Chief Minister, who later met the media persons, replied in the negative when asked whether his son and Minister M.K. Stalin would be made the Deputy Chief Minister as a reward for his strenuous campaign work in the recent elections that covered the entire State. Karunanidhi however said he would 'consider' if his son put forth such a request, and he hastened to add: "I think he (Stalin) will not make such a demand."

On accommodating Congress in the state cabinet, he said "Let those in New Delhi demand it first; then we will see."

Union Minister T.R.Baalu has been made the Parliament Joint Committee leader of the DMK. He would head both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of the party, Karunanidhi said.

- Asian Tribune -