DMK may send token representation to UPA anniversary celeb

Chennai, May 22: DMK may send a token representation to the second anniversary celebrations of the UPA-II Government at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi on Sunday, May 22.

Party sources said DMK Parliamentary Party chief T R Baalu has been asked to go to Delhi this afternoon and after that he may be told to be present at the dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Sulking over party MP Kanimozhi's arrest, DMK President M Karunanidhi discussed with other leaders the issue of attending the celebrations till the small hours of the day, after which Baalu snapped back at reporters "why are you asking this question? what has gone wrong now?" When pressed further whether the party would not attend the celebrations, he said: "That may be your wish." Union Ministers belonging to the DMK may not attend the celebrations, which will be attended by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other allied parties.

DMK Ministers and MPs reached Chennai from Delhi on Saturday.

DMK, with 18 MPs, is the third largest constituent of the UPA and has six ministers, including two with cabinet rank, in the Council of Ministers.

Sources said the DMK may not be in a celebratory mood with Kanimozhi, daughter of M Karunanidhi, in jail on bribery charges.

Upset over Kanimozhi's arrest, Karunanidhi had on Friday said that he was in a position like that of any father whose daughter faced a similar situation for no fault of hers.

He had also said the DMK general council would decide on future ties with Congress.

PTI