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.

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