No effect on DMK ties: Cong

The Congress on Wednesday said that former Telecom Minister A Rajas arrest enhances the credibility of the UPA government,even as it maintained that the development will have no bearing on its ties with ally DMK.

The Congress on Wednesday said that former Telecom Minister A Rajas arrest enhances the credibility of the UPA government,even as it maintained that the development will have no bearing on its ties with ally DMK.

The two parties have gone ahead to name their representatives in the committee to formalise the modalities of the seat-sharing arrangement for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi had called on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday and the two had decided to set up this committee.

Congress sources said there was no discussion on Raja or the CBI investigation during their meeting. The DMK leadership was aware of the possible courses of action the CBI could take and,therefore,the development is unlikely to create any breach between the allies,said sources.

This case should be investigated properly. Law is taking its course and we will never come in the way of it. This wont affect ties with the DMK, said Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

It is the continuation of the legal process and it has no reflection on our alliance, said party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Asked whether Rajas arrest would put a question mark on the credibility of the UPA and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as per the principle of collective responsibility,he said,Nobody will accept that credibility of the PM and the government will be affected. As per the Constitution,it has nothing to do with criminal liability.

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It reflects on the credibility of the government because it shows that without going into innocence or guilt it allows action to be taken according to the law, said Singhvi,attacking the BJP for its double speak as it has taken no action against its Chief Minister in Karnataka,B S Yeddyurappa on graft charges.

Among those in the 10-member panel to formalise the seat-sharing arrangement for Tamil Nadu are Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vyalar Ravi from the Congress and Tamil Nadu Deputy CM M K Stalin,T R Baalu,Durai Murugan,Arcot M Veerasamy and K Ponmudi from the DMK. The Congress will name three more members shortly.

The DMK general council will meet at the party headquarters in Chennai on Thursday to decide its strategy for the polls. Karunanidhi is expected to apprise the council,the highest decision-making body of the DMK,the details of his meetings with the Congress leadership in Delhi.

Rajas arrest and its immediate fallout may also come up for discussion,especially if the power centres within the party that are against Raja want to sideline him.