Things were expected to change in the capital after the May 13 verdict of the four state assembly elections, but the extent of the change was signalled only Sunday, with the Congress president Sonia Gandhi calling up AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to congratulate her on her party?s win in Tamil Nadu.
The bonhomie seemed ironic, considering that the DMK is a long-time ally of the Congress and the two parties received a huge drubbing at the hustings as recently as Friday.
Gandhi called J Jayalalithaa on Saturday evening, and has set off speculation that the Congress might be exploring a change in allies. Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan, however, said that Gandhi?s was a mere courtesy call, adding that ?the congress president had called all the winners of Friday?s counting to congratulate them. That is all the information I have.?
Sources in the party however say that, this overture is more than one of courtesy. ?The Tamil Nadu elections have proved that corruption is a huge issue, and we need to cut the final threads that bind us to the 2G spectrum scam,? said a senior leader. The senior leader was categorical that the telecom ministry would henceforth be with the Congress in the impending Cabinet reshuffle.
?The call is important in the sense that it will also signal to the DMK that there is no point in their withdrawing their ministers from the Centre, whatever the outcome of Kanimozhi?s bail plea happens to be on May 20,? said the source.
There was speculation that the DMK might withdraw its ministers if Kanimozhi goes to jail. ?There is sure to be a Cabinet reshuffle before July and a comprehensive one at that. This phone call is a signal that the DMK need not get ideas above its station,? said the source.
Meanwhile, Mamta Banerjee has indicated that her party will be retaining the railway portfolio despite her win in assembly elections. The ministry will remain in the Trinamool kitty. However, TMC sources also said that Banerjee will try and get another minister of state portfolio, probably in the roads ministry or commerce for her party.