Kanimozhi opts out,7 DMK ministers set to join Govt

Ending speculation over her induction in UPA govt,Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi said she would not be joining the Council of Ministers.

Ending speculation over her induction in the Manmohan Singh government,Kanimozhi,daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi,on Monday said she would not be joining the Council of Ministers which is to be expanded on Tuesday with the induction,among others,of DMK MPs.

I have opted out, Kanimozhi told The Indian Express. It is now clear that the three Cabinet berths that the Congress had offered the DMK will go to her elder brother M K Azhagiri,cousin Dayanidhi Maran and A Raja.

According to DMK sources,four party MPs film star-turned-politician D Napoleon,S S Palanimanickam,Jegathrakshakan and Gandhiselvan are tipped to become Ministers of State. The DMK is likely to get IT,Textiles and Chemicals and Fertilizers portfolios for its Cabinet ministers. Sources in DMK said Raja could get the IT Ministry,but it is learnt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was reluctant to hand the key portfolio to him.

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The race for ministerial berths had revived a bitter family feud within the DMK chiefs family. While Kanimozhi had the backing of her mother and Karunanidhis third wife Rajathi,his second wife Dayalu Ammal had been rooting for her son Azhagiri. Raja was said to be close to the Dayalu household while Karunanidhis elder daughter Selvi had backed Maran. Baalu was persuaded by senior DMK leaders to opt out. Sources said Baalus decision has gone down well with Karunanidhi as it paved the way for Azhagiris induction into the Ministry.

Kanimozhi,a first-time Lok Sabha MP,has been member of the Rajya Sabha for the last two years.

Azhagiri,along with some of his family members and supporters,reached New Delhi on Monday afternoon. He was said to be carrying a letter from Karunanidhi for Sonia Gandhi.

In Chennai,Karunanidhi issued a statement saying the Prime Minister wanted our members to be present for swearing in on Tuesday and I have assured him that they will be in Delhi today (Monday) evening itself. He thanked Singh for amicably settling the issue with the Congress not giving it the berths it was demanding,the DMK had earlier announced it would stay out of the Government and lend it outside support and blamed the imbroglio on the campaign by a few media personnel in Tamil Nadu and Delhi.