Alagiri has not quit central government
January 5th, 2011 - 8:23 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, Jan 5 (IANS) Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister M.K. Alagiri has not quit the central government over reported differences within Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK over the 2G spectrum scandal, party sources said Wednesday.The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity amid speculation of an internal war in the state’s first family over the scam that has enveloped the DMK like no other issue.
Tamil Nadu had been agog with rumours that Alagiri had quit both the central government and the post of organizing secretary (south) — which makes him one of the most powerful men in the DMK.
Neither DMK nor Alagiri were ready to comment on the issue. But a senior party leader told IANS: “Both didn’t happen.”
Sources close to Alagiri asserted he had not resigned from the central ministry.
According to a party leader, normally resignations are submitted to the party headquarters or to its general secretary.
He added: “It is only the chief minister who knows the actual situation on the resignation issue. But yesterday he was in a jovial mood, giving no indication of any crisis.”
Alagiri reportedly wants disgraced former central communications minister A. Raja to be stripped of his post of propaganda secretary in the DMK so that the party can distance itself from the spectrum scam.
Raja is at the heart of the scandal. He has been accused of giving away second- generation spectrum at below-market price, causing huge losses to the government.
Raja has denied the charge, but the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has interrogated him at length over his involvement in the scandal. The development has embarrassed the party.
Alagiri has resisted coming to the support of Raja or Karunanidhi’s daughter - and his cousin - M.K. Kanimozhi, who too has been linked to corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.
Radia has been taped campaigning for Raja to be the communications minister in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet after he became prime minister for a second time in 2009.
The DMK recently launched a statewide campaign defending the spectrum allocation policy of the central government. But Alagiri has stayed away from it.
Alagiri is also said to be upset with Tamil Nadu IT Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna, who has been taped referring to Alagiri in poor light during her telephonic conversations with Radia.
Alagiri is the eldest son of Karunanidhi. Despite repeated attempts, IANS could not reach him on telephone.
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- DMK holds quit notice, parleys on with Congress (Intro Roundup) - Mar 08, 2011
- Congress, DMK preparing to shake hands again? (Night Lead) - Mar 07, 2011
- Raja promises to 'cooperate' with CBI - Dec 22, 2010
- DMK supports Raja, says arrest doesn't make him guilty (Lead) - Feb 03, 2011
- DMK cadres ready for soul-searching at Coimbatore - Jul 22, 2011
- DMK silent on cabinet representation, alliance (Lead) - Jul 24, 2011
- DMK ministers meet Pranab, as discussions on seat sharing continue - Mar 08, 2011
- Congress-DMK talks on seat sharing continue - Mar 08, 2011
- CBI swoops on Raja kin, Radia, Kanimozhi NGO - Dec 15, 2010
- Tie-up with Congress stays but no new ministers: DMK (Fourth Lead) - Jul 25, 2011
- CBI questions Raja again on 2G scam role - Dec 25, 2010
Tags: cbi, central bureau of investigation, central communications, central government, chief minister, corporate lobbyist, dmk, fertilizers, general secretary, internal war, jovial mood, karunanidhi, manmohan, manmohan singh, party headquarters, party leader, raja, resignations, second generation, tamil nadu