In a day of fast-paced developments, DMK succumbs to Congress pressure
Telecommunications Minister A Raja today resigned from the government in the wake of a Rs1.76-lakh-crore 2G spectrum allocation scam. He met his party leader, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, twice during the day and left Chennai in the evening after telling reporters there was no question of his resigning.
But upon landing in Delhi, he went to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence and handed over his resignation. His request that he continue as minister without portfolio was rejected by the Congress.
When asked the reason for his resignation, Raja told Business Standard, “I have no reason (to resign).”
Later, speaking with TV newspersons, Raja said his “conscience is clear” and that he had resigned to avoid acrimony in Parliament. Insisting that he had done nothing wrong, Raja said: “Quitting doesn’t mean I’m guilty (of wrongdoing).”
It was an adamant Prime Minister, who forced the issue. The Congress party counselled the DMK to drop Raja or risk their alliance breaking down. After a core committee meeting at the PM's residence this morning, at least seven central leaders, including senior ministers, spoke to Karunanidhi during the day urging him to recall Raja.
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Sources in the Congress party told Business Standard that in the meeting, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was adamant on casting out Raja, forcing the Congress brass to toe his line. Singh also held a one-to-one meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday morning.
As the portfolio will be claimed by the DMK, Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam, is most likely to take Raja’s place.
Until Saturday, Congress managers were resigned to mounting a defence of Raja in Parliament as an equally adamant Karunanidhi had refused to remove Raja, known to be a supporter of daughter Kanimozhi. Top Congress managers were also preparing to launch a counter offensive.
But it was at the end of a day of nail-biting suspense, after the Congress core committee — comprising the Congress President’s Political Secretary, Ahmad Patel and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee — discussed the configuration of forces in Chennai as well as Delhi.
In the parallel, the DMK held its own meetings. In a party riven with groups, Karunanidhi’s two sons — Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin and Union Minister MK Azhagiri — both said Raja’s continuance was putting a strain on the Congress-DMK alliance and this should not happen in the interest of “one person”.
Raja had only one votary in the DMK: Kanimozhi. The two brothers disapprove of her support for Raja.
It is the Congress that played its card here, further feeding the feeling of insecurity in the DMK. “Someone in Delhi told us that the Congress was ready to dump DMK and strike a deal with Puratchi Thalaivi” (revolutionary leader, the other name for Jayalalithaa),” an ADMK source said. Jayalalithaa’s statement that she would replace the DMK MPs, these sources said, was not suo moto. It was on the basis of a verbal assurance from the Congress.
Worried that the Congress might desert them, the DMK leadership told Karunanidhi that another dalit leader could replace Raja. They have suggested that Vijayan, MP from Nagapattinam could be elevated as minister of state.
Although Raja has resigned, the Opposition continues to demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the telecom scam. Jayalalithaa was the first to voice this demand.
| BLOW-BY-BLOW ACCOUNT At 11 am, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh holds a meeting in his chamber in Parliament. Joining him is Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Also present are Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her political secretary, Ahmad Patel. PM makes it clear he wants Raja to go. Home Minister P Chidambaram is called in and Defence Minister AK Antony is consulted in Thiruvananthapuram. |
Mukherjee makes a call to DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. He is bluntly told there is no option but for Raja to quit. Karunanidhi stalls for time until the evening. But Mukherjee and Chidambaram insist on a decision as early as possible.
Around 3 pm, Karunanidhi calls back to say he agrees to remove Raja from the telecom ministry, but wants to send Kanimozhi for further discussions. Kanimozhi holds last-ditch evening meetings with Congress managers to retain Raja as minister without portfolio, keeping in mind the forthcoming Assembly elections. The Congress tells Kanimozhi Raja must first resign and that this is not negotiable.
Before Raja leaves Chennai for Delhi, it is decided he will resign. Top Congress managers convey to the PM that efforts are underway to get Raja to resign later at night. Raja arrives in Delhi, heads straight to the PM’s Race Course Road residence and submits his resignation at 10.15 pm