By IANS,
Tiruchirappalli : For the second time in a week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Sunday hinted at sharing power with the Congress in the state.
“If the Congress high command informs us about its wish to share power in Tamil Nadu through a coalition ministry, we will take an appropriate decision after consulting our party executive and general council,” Karunanidhi told reporters here on the sidelines of a party function.
Sections within the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress have been underlining the need for a coalition ministry since the ruling DMK came to power 28 months ago.
Sources within the DMK indicated that the chief minister was continuing his procrastination exercise.
“The chief minister will play for time till the parliamentary elections, when the considerations to win all the 40 seats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will take centre stage,” a top DMK source told IANS, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The Congress leadership will not upset the applecart from then on. In more ways than one, Kalaignar (as Karunanidhi is referred to) was instrumental in ending the Congress rule in 1967. He will, therefore, not allow it to come into the reckoning under his rule,” the source said.
Last Sunday, Karunanidhi said discussions were underway with the Congress leadership to form a power sharing coalition in the state.
The DMK has 95 members in the 235-member Tamil Nadu legislative assembly. It is being propped up by the Congress, which has 35 members, and a legislator belonging to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.