The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will not nominate candidates to fill the two vacancies in the Union Cabinet, which arose because of the resignations of A. Raja as Minister for Communications and Dayanidhi Maran as Minister for Textiles. And, the DMK will continue to be part of the United Progressive Alliance, party president M. Karunanidhi said here on Sunday.
Addressing presspersons after the conclusion of the party's general council meeting, he said: “We have decided that the status quo will remain. We will not get the vacancies filled and, at the same time, those already in the Ministry will continue.”
Asked whether the DMK was expressing displeasure at the Congress by not nominating its members to the Cabinet, Mr. Karunanidhi said it was not upset with the Congress.
But, some Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu were attacking the DMK. This upset the DMK cadres and their displeasure was discussed at the general council meeting, he said.
Asked whether Union Fertilizers Minister M.K. Alagiri boycotted the post-lunch session, Mr. Karunanidhi said it could not be called a boycott.
Published - July 24, 2011 03:33 pm IST