Eyeing cabinet berths, Karunanidhi and relatives meet Manmohan, Sonia

New Delhi: A day ahead of the crucial meeting of pre-poll UPA allies, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi yesterday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi amid speculation that the DMK is eyeing meaty cabinet portfolios.

Karunanidhi was accompanied by his son M.K. Azhagiri, daughter Kanimozhi, grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran, a former telecommunications minister, and T.R. Baalu, also a former minister in the UPA government. A beaming Sonia Gandhi greeted the DMK patriarch at her 10, Janpath residence and wrapped a shawl around him in a gesture of respect. After meeting Gandhi, Karunanidhi met Manmohan Singh at his 7, Race Course Road residence.

The issue of cabinet formation will figure prominently in the first meeting of the pre-poll allies of the Congress party here today. Defying pollsters and widespread speculation that his rival Jayalalithaa would sweep the state, the DMK put in a surprise performance, winning 18 of the state’s 39 seats. The DMK is said to be demanding six to seven cabinet berths, which the Congress considers unreasonable. Karunanidhi is keen that Azhagiri, Kanimozhi and Maran are accommodated in the new cabinet, which is likely to be announced later this week.

Comments

STUDENTS SURROUND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AT J’PURA

A tense situation has broken out at the Jayawardenapura University after a group of students surrounded an administrative building. The students have reportedly surrounded Vice Chancellor N.L.A. Karunaratna ’ s office building following an announcement that he will not be issuing Mahapola scholarships.

Ukrainians injured as police dismantle Kiev 'tent city'

At least 10 demonstrators have been injured in clashes with Ukrainian police and another 100 detained in the capital Kiev after authorities began dismantling a makeshift "tent city" protesting against corruption. The tent city was set up in October by supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili, a former president of Georgia who has become an opposition politician in Ukraine. Saakashvili, a critic of corruption in Ukraine, was deported to Poland in February. He said he was "kidnapped" by Ukrainian authorities and removed from the country against his will. Andriy Kryshchneko, police chief of police, said at the camp on Saturday that "two court decisions" allowed authorities to search and dismantle the camp. Police said that explosives and other weapons were found at the scene

VIDEO: FONSEKA FOUND GUILTY; SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS

Sarath Fonseka was found guilty by a divided decision in the case regarding the ‘White Flag’ statement and sentenced to 3 years in prison by the Colombo High Court today (November 18). The verdict divided 2:1 was given by the High Court bench, headed by Judge Deepali Wijesundara and comprising Judges DMPD Waraweva and Zulfiqar Razin. Justice Waraweva giving his judgment deliberated that Fonseka was not guilty on all three charges while Justice Wijesundara and Rashim found Fonseka guilty of the first charge, of inciting violence through his statement, and found him not guilty on the second and third charges. Sarath Fonseka, who is currently serving a 30-month jail term imposed by a court martial, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs.5,000. The former Army Commander was accused of inciting violence by, in an interview given to the Sunday Leader, alleging that Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave an illegal order not to accommodate any LTTE cadres attempting to...

Share Blogs

Search This Blog