Speaking to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk programme — the interview will be telecast at 7.30 pm on Saturday, October 20 — Karunanidhi said he had reservations about the deal even before the Left raised its objections.

“Frankly the deal is not important, the government is. I did have doubts about the deal. So I spoke for the Left. I also fought for the Left. I shared the Communists’ ideas with the PM and Sonia Gandhi,” he said.

“At the same time, I had a discussion with the Communists as well. I spoke to Prakash Karat too. After discussions with both sides, I said we should not spoil the relation and we should serve the nation for the remaining two years,” Karunanidhi said.

And that’s why, he said, he sided with the Left in the stand-off with the government.

Karunanidhi also spoke of his belief in Left ideology. “I have always been a believer in Communist ideology. I have been Chief Minister five times, each time my programmes have been of a socialist bent.”

Asked is it true if Periyar had not launched the Dravida movement, he would have been a Communist, Karunanidhi said: “Yes, yes, absolutely.” He also said “no matter what you ask me, you will never get any criticism of the Left out of me.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister took credit today for the “DMK’s role” in averting a crisis at the Centre. In a statement issued a day after he wrote to the PM and Sonia Gandhi praising them for their “decision”, he said: “I am compelled to state humbly that we can also be proud that we played a part in reaching this sound decision, as we have our share of responsibility in the UPA government.”

Warning UPA constituents to be vigilant, he said: “Let none of us make any wrong calculation that communal and regressive forces have been fully silenced. We should remain vigilant.”

“History would indelibly record that Singh and Gandhi deserved all praise and fame for arriving at a decision that comforted everyone.” The decision, he said, came at a time when “selfish forces were out to destroy the social fabric.”