CBI actions will not affect ties with DMK, says Cong

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) Congress today expressedconfidence that the CBI actions into the 2G Spectrum scam willhave no bearing on its alliance with DMK in poll-boundTamil Nadu, saying these are two different issues.

The party asserted that actions in the case were inline with the findings of the Supreme Court-monitoredinvestigation.

"These are two different issues. Our alliance is apolitical alliance. What CBI is doing for furtherinvestigation, it is for them to explain the details of whythey are taking action against certain individuals. As far asour alliance with DMK is concerned, it has nothing to withthese matters," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.

His reaction came on a day when CBI carried outsearches sin the offices and residences of top management ofDMK first family run Kalaignar TV in connection with the 2Gspectrum scam.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi''s wife MK Dayalu owns 60 percent stake in Kalaignar while party MP Kanimozhi has 20 percent.

However, a senior party leader, speaking on condition ofanonymity, accepted that the arrest of former TelecomMinister A Raja and the "exposure" of Karunanidhi family linkswill create discomfort for the party in the run-up to theAssembly elections. He expressed the hope that the issue would"wear out" as elections are still a few months away.

He also said that there is "no threat of damage to thealliance" as both Congress and DMK will lose if they go ontheir own.

There was also a view that the DMK, which is alreadyfacing tough times with the case disclosures, would not liketo risk parting ways with the Congress.

Sources in the party indicated that the alliancepartner also understands that in a Supreme court monitoredinvestigation, the progress in the case will happen as per theevidence.

The Congress, which earlier had reservations againstbringing PMK into alliance, also appeared unaffected with thetie-up between the southern parties.

"In politics it happens. DMK was earlier with NDA tenyears back but today it is a very strong alliance partner ofUPA. We have an alliance in the state as well as Government ofIndia. We have successfully completed one term (at the Centre)from 2004 to 2009 and we do hope that we will successfullycomplete (alliance) from 2009 to 2014 and we will also win thecoming elections in Tamil Nadu," Ahmed said.

At the same time, he evaded questions on the "merit"of DMK-PMK alliance which was announced in Chennai today underwhich which PMK has been allotted 31 Assembly seats.

The Congress spokesperson said, "I do not know thedetails of the decision. Whether PMK is going to be part ofalliance or not. It is not formally announced whether DMK, PMKand Congress would contest together. But offcourse, it isexpected that they would contest together." PTI AMR