DMK keeps options open on Kalam's second term

Chennai, May 13: The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, a key constituent of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, is keeping its options open on re-nominating President A P J Abdul Kalam for a second term.

Asked to spell out party's stand in the backdrop of the controversy over the demand for a second term for Dr Kalam, DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said he had to consult his senior colleagues in the party and alliance party leaders before taking a decision.

''I have to consult senior leaders in the party and ascertain the views of the leaders of our allies before formulating our position on the issue,'' he said.

The octogenarian leader made these ramarks during an exclusive interview to UNI on the occasion of the golden jubilee of his membership in the state Assembly and completion of one year in office in his fifth term as Chief Minister.

Mr Karunidhi, replying to quesions on various issues, ruled out appointing a Deputy Chief Minister at this stage. He was receptive to the possibility of a more active role in the party to his poetess- daughter Kanimozhi, while parrying a question on whether the Congress would be accomodated in the Ministry.

Asked whether he would consider appointing a deputy to him, in view of his work load, Mr Karunanidhi, ruling it out said ''I have never considered my workload as burdensome...I will continue to work in the spirit of duty for duty's sake as this is my second nature.'' To a question whether his son and Local Administation Minsiter M K Stalin would be entrusted with additional responsibility (possibily with Deputy Chief Ministership), he said Mr Stalin's plate was full.

''The responsibility given to Mr Stalin is in line with the load he can take now,'' he added.

The Chief Minister, who completed one year in office, in his record fifth term, expressed complete satisfaction with the performance of his government in the first year. ''We have fulfilled 90 per cent of the poll promises, made in the election manifesto in the very first year itself. In just one year, we have made remarkable achievements. If I have to rate the performance on a scale of one to 10, I will give 10 out 10,'' he said.

To a related question, Mr Karunanidhi said in one year, all departments had functioned well. ''None is found wanting,'' he added.

On whether the opposition AIADMK's repeated charge that the DMK was running a minority government would be silenced by accommodating the Congress in the ministry, the Chief Minister dared the AIADMK to move a no-confidence motion against the government.

''After having formed the government with letters of support in writing from our alliance parties, the AIADMK dubbing it as minority government, amounts to ridiculing the Indian Constitution itself,'' he warned.

''They (AIADMK) do not have the mental strength to respond to our challenge to bring in a no confidence motion to test whether the DMK Government enjoyed a majority or not,'' he said.

On the steps being taken in view of the threats posed to Tamil Nadu by the outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), especially in the backdrop of its air strike capabilities, Mr Karunanidhi said the Centre itself has announced that air surveillance and coastal security along the Tamil Nadu coast had been considerably strengthened.

Asked whether the government would come out with any new scheme to mark his golden jubilee celebrations, the Chief Minister said the government has announced a number of special schemes in the state budget 2007-08 itself.

Answering a question, Mr Karunanidhi said the government was considering building a new Assembly complex to mark the golden jubilee occasion. (The Chief Minister, however, announced in the Assembly yesterday that the government would soon lay the foundation stone for the new complex which would be built during the present DMK tenure).

Mr Karunanidhi said a number of welfare schemes implemented during the DMK regimes had given him immense satisfaction. But even after becoming the Chief Minister for a fifth term, his yearning was he could not come out with a scheme which would totally and permanently wipe out the tears of the poor.

Nationalisation of bus services, residential rights for the farm workers, homes for children, leprosy rehabilitation centres, equal rights for women in property, archakas from all castes, free lands for landless poor, Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram (equality habitations) and Anna Marumalarchi Scheme were some of the programmes which gave him immense satisfaction, Mr Karunanidhi said.

Rationalist Leader Periyar E V Ramasamy, Mr Karunanidhi's mentor Anna (Former Chief Minister C N Annadurai) and Congress stalwart K Kamaraj were the three top leaders liked most by the octogenarian.

The other national and state leaders who were close to his heart included Ms Indira Gandhi, Babu Jagajeevan Ram, Rajaji, Quaide-Millet, V P Singh, P Jeevanandham, Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi foresaw a bright future for the DMK in the coming years.

''In the coming years, the DMK will grow further and gain in popularity,'' he said.

UNI