Centre failed to respond to repeated pleas, says DMK

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is pleased to have his own way on the Neyveli disinvestment but is said to be quite put off at being painted as the villain of the piece by the Congress.

According to sources close to the DMK chief, Karunanidhi felt that he was forced to offer to withdraw support to the government as the Centre had not responded to his repeated attempts to get the matter sorted out.

"Karunanidhi strongly feels that there has been a breakdown in communication within the government and between him and the government, otherwise is it possible that despite having told the government on three separate occasions that the Neyveli situation was desperate, nothing was done," said a source close to the leader.

"Admittedly, relations between Finance Minister P Chidambaram and DMK are bad, but Karunanidhi spoke to him thrice on the issue," the source said, adding, "Karunanidhi felt that the step was necessary to protect his turf."

"What the Congress should understand before blaming the DMK is that the party itself would have had nothing to gain by withdrawing from the government. They are no more prepared for elections than the Congress," the source added. "The DMK cannot afford to part ways with the Congress at this moment," he said.

According to DMK organising secretary E K Elangovan, as part of the UPA, the DMK also has the responsibilities of carrying out the programmes and policies of the government.

"It is true that ministers belonging to our party were not there when the decision to divest in NLC was taken. It's a faulty decision and we would have pointed it out there and then. The workers of NLC did not have the money to buy the shares being offered and an alternative solution should have been found," he added.