Cong plays tough, DMK to boycott oath taking

New Delhi: Looks like the Congress – backed by numbers enough to form the Government – is not willing to give in to ally DMK’s pressures.

The party has reportedly offered a “take it or leave it” deal to the miffed ally over power sharing.

What many see as Congress’ “no arm-twisting” message to DMK, the party is reportedly 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.

However, the DMK has rejected the offer, deciding to not attend the swearing-in ceremony slated for 1830 hrs IST on Friday.

The party top brass has left Delhi for Chennai where they will discuss the Congress offer.

Before leaving Delhi, Karunanidhi told reporters that the Congress has given a formula on ministerial allocation but he cannot give his views as an individual. "DMK's executive will discuss and decide on the issue after which only the party would say something," he said.

On Thursday, after several rounds of discussions in the last two days, the party announced that the Congress formula on ministerial allocation was not acceptable to it and the party would give only outside support.

There are various versions of what the DMK has demanded and what the Congress has agreed to give. Among them are that the party wanted cabinet berths for Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri, daughter Kanimozhi and grand nephew Dayanadhi Maran besides T R Baalu and A Raja apart from ministers of state berths for some others

So why is Congress playing tough? The party is holding all the political aces as of now. Even without the DMK, the UPA has the support of 304 MPs.

The Tamil Nadu state elections are in 2011 and the DMK needs Congress support for its survival Manmohan Singh has drawn a final line on performance of ministers, this time around.

Also the Congress thinks if it gives in to the DMK, similar demands will come from other allies.

(With inputs from CNN-IBN and agencies)