Chennai:
The DMK is on a tough posturing mode demanding more ministries but former IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran has emerged a clear winner. Thanks to the Congress' love for him, he may be the only one in the outgoing DMK team who may retain the earlier portfolio.
This has led to a hot competition within the DMK turf.
"Negotiations are still going on so please don't speculate. It is a political process and my leader will soon announce," Maran said.
Meanwhile, even after an informal late evening meeting of the party's ministerial aspirants at Karunanidhi's house, the DMK is keeping its ally, the Congress, guessing.
The meeting comes after the PM reached out to the party shortly after the swearing-in ceremony saying, "There was no controversy over the induction of A Raja and TR Baalu and I consider them his esteemed colleagues."
The PM also said whatever was offered to the DMK was reasonable, and hoped the party would reconsider its decision of staying out of the government.
Sources say initially the Congress wasn't game for Raja and Baalu who faced corruption and nepotism charges during their stints as ministers.
When asked whether he is worried at being denied the portfolio, former shipping minister T R Baalu said, "No, no. I am not worried. All in the Congress are my friends."
But sources say the Congress was keen to have Dayanidhi Maran as Telecom Minister -- a post he had to give up due to the family feud with Karunanidhi.
Even after the patch-up, newspapers had predicted a raw deal for Maran given that Karunanidhi's son Azhagiri and daughter Kanimozhi were also said to eye ministerial berths at the Centre. More ministers are likely to sworn-in early next week. But for now, the Congress is said to be firm on not giving more than three Cabinet berths to its southern ally.
While it's clearly advantage Dayanidhi, for Karunanidhi it's going to be a tough choice between his party and family.