DMK rattled, working to save alliance

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DKM), a key member of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, is working overtime to save itself in the coalition.

The party is under intense pressure to come clean on the role of former telecom minister A Raja, a DMK member, in the 2G spectrum scandal. For the DMK, staying a part of the central government is extremely crucial, particularly with the Tamil Nadu assembly elections less than six months away.

Despite news reports that the raids carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had rattled the DMK leadership, it now appreas that that DMK is actually working overtime to pacify the Congress party. The CBI had searched the properties of persons known to be close to family members of TN chief minister and DMK president M Karunandhi’s family and the properties of Raja’s kin.

Although the party top brass was earlier slated to meet on Saturday at the same time that the Congress steering committee to hold its session in Delhi to discuss the fallout of the 2G spectrum scam, wherein spectrum was allegedly undersold to a few select persons, DMK circles have flatly denied any such meeting being held.

Though the DMK seems perturbed at the sudden pro-active approach of the central investigating agencies on the spectrum scam, the party has adopted a wait-and-watch policy rather than precipitate matters.

Sources say Karunanidhi has assigned senior DMK leader TR Baalu the task of ensuring smooth relations with the Congress. Baalu, a member of parliament, is in touch with senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel.

Meanwhile, in a related development, former telecom minister Arun Shourie has offered himself for questioning by the CBI in matter related to spectrum allocation. Shourie, who was telecom minister from 2003 to 2004 in the National Democratic Alliance government, said he was ready to answer any question.

“I would be very happy to answer. No difficulty in that. I can even answer in the public hall here. If they invite me to their place... (or) they are also always welcome to my house. No problem,” he said at a conference in Chennai.

When asked by a member of the audience on whether CBI probe was moving in the right direction, he replied, “Much of the evidence regarding front companies of Raja was given to CBI almost a year ago.

That much I can tell you from personal knowledge.” Shourie blamed Raja for “ breaking the entire system and claimed that everything was done according to law during the NDA regime.

“Raja also changed the priority list to favour one firm,” he said.