In remarks that could trigger a new political debate, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M Karunanidhi has said there is need for a Constituent Assembly that could draft a new Constitution in the era of coalitions and the country should look towards a federal form of government in the true sense.

Speaking to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk programme — the interview will be telecast at 9.30 pm on Saturday, October 20 — Karunanidhi said: “Our Constitution has been changed many times. What should be done is that all shortcomings of the Constitution should be addressed in one sitting. That is what I feel.”

The DMK chief also stuck to his stand on the controversial Ram Sethu issue. “What I’m trying to say is that even if we have to cut across the bridge, there is no harm in doing so because it is for the welfare of the people,” he said.

And in the first revelation on how the UPA government was forced to go slow on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Karunanidhi said he had doubts 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.

The Congress reacted cautiously, clarifying that the nuclear deal was not yet off. Party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said Karunanidhi is “a very senior leader” and it may be “his opinion”. “When we discuss on the negotiating table, the Congress president tries to keep the viewpoint of all UPA parties. So I don’t think there is any need to put more focus on that,” he said.

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