DMK deal done: 3 cabinet berths,plus Dy Speaker

The two sides are likely to formally announce the deal on Monday.

According to sources in Delhi,as per the agreement between the two parties,the DMK will get three cabinet berths,3 ministers of state,and a minister of state with independent charge,apart from the Deputy Speakership. DMK chief Karunanidhi’s son MK Azhagiri and his grand-nephew Dayanidhi Maran are likely to be cabinet ministers,along with A Raja. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi may be an MoS (Independent),probably in charge of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.

Karunanidhi agreed to the deal after the Congress refused to part with any more than three cabinet berths. The Congress is learnt to have been reluctant to give away key infrastructure ministries like shipping,road transport & highways,which Baalu held in UPA-I and the DMK was claiming again. M Veerappa Moily is said to be the frontrunner for Baalu’s job,though he is also in the race for the HRD ministry.

Azhagiri,Karunanidhi’s elder son,is said to be the party’s choice for the chemicals and fertilizers ministry.

Sources in Chennai said the family was not keen on re-installing Dayanidhi Maran in the IT ministry,and wanted the post for A Raja,who had replaced Maran midway through the earlier government’s term after the relationship between the Marans and Karunanidhi’s family turned sour. Maran’s name is now under consideration for the textiles portfolio.

The differences with the DMK having been sorted,the Congress leadership in Delhi on Sunday got down to the task of portfolio distribution and preparing the list of ministers of state and MoS with independent charge,who would be sworn in on Tuesday along with other cabinet ministers.

The party was said to be looking for a substitute for former Law Minister HR Bhardwaj whose name did not figure in the list of cabinet ministers on Friday. Bhardwaj was said to be in a race with PK Bansal for the ministry of corporate affairs. Salman Khursheed,Sachin Pilot and Agatha Sangma are some of the new names set to be inducted in the council of ministers Tuesday.