DMK turns down Cong's offer for more Cabinet posts

With speculations rife about a Union Cabinet reshuffle, the Congress has discussed the issue with Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam, the largest ally of the United Progressive Alliance after the exit of the Trinamool Congress.

Union Minister V Narayansamy called on DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai on Tuesday, but the latter is learnt to have turned down the offer for the induction of his party MPs in the Manmohan Singh-led Cabinet, party sources said.

The DMK chief, whose party's quota of two Cabinet portfolios remain vacant after the exit of A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran over the 2G spectrum allocation scam, is not keen to have them filled, party sources said, adding that the same had been conveyed to Narayanasamy, who came as the prime minister's emissary.

DMK, which lends crucial support to the UPA, has not been pressing for the induction of its party men into the Cabinet. Karunanidhi gave enough hints when he said that such issues are only discussed at the key decision-making bodies of the party like the Executive or General Council.

Even in the last reshuffle, DMK was not given any additional berth.

In an embarrassment to the UPA, Karunanidhi had extended his party's support to the September 20 nation-wide bandh called by opposition parties against the Centre's decision to allow 51 per cent FDI in retail trade and increase in diesel price.