A.Raja to be ditched by DMK?

The Game is over Mr. Raja

Sources tell Whispers in Tamil Nadu that the DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi is all set to ditch A.Raja, the blue eyed boy of the DMK.   Whispers in Tamil Nadu had earlier reported about Karunanidhi’s displeasure with A.Raja as he is using his daughter Kanimozhi, as a shield to protect him in the 2G scam case.

During Karuna’s recent visit to Delhi… it was categorically conveyed to by top congress honchos that the Congress leadership is not taking Raja’s defense in the 2G case lightly.  Displeasure over A Raja’s argument to call PM and Finance Minister as witnesses was already conveyed to M Karunanidhi…DMK sources say it was V Narayanswami who conveyed this message to Karunanidhi after Kanimozhi’s advocate toed A Raja’s line of argument during the course of trial. Sensing danger the DMK Chief immediately asked to change Kanimozhi’s lawyer…and pleaded neither Kanimozhi nor anyone in the party had any idea on this particular argument made by A Raja’s counsel Sushil Kumar, who was also the counsel for Kanimozhi.  

But A Raja has been repeatedly making allegations against the Prime Minister and Finance Minister P.Chidambaram seems to have angered the Congress leadership.   The game-plan of A.Raja in the 2G case would ultimately result in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being called as a witness during the course of the trial.    Manmohan Singh would be forced to defend Raja’s cross examination and justify that A.Raja had misled him in taking decisions in the spectrum allocation and pricing. Further the petition of Dr.Subramanian Swamy to include Sonia’s loyalist P.Chidambaram as a co-accused in the 2G scam is also causing embarrassment not only to the party but also to the government at a time when the issue of corruption is making headlines in the country.   

Sources say when Karuna met P.Chidambaram and Law Minister Salman Kurshid it was communicated to Karunanidhi and he was asked to reign in on A.Raja and instruct him accordingly not to drag PM and FM in 2G arguments.   When Karunanidhi met A.Raja in Tihar prison last week sources say Karuna had instructed A.Raja not to target the congress leaders and to go soft.  Karuna had also informed A.Raja that any move that would embarrass congress would only result in more trouble for Kanimozhi and spending more time in jail.  But A.Raja had reportedly snubbed DMK chief, saying that he is a lawyer himself and knows what to do and informed Karunanidhi that only by dragging PM and FM in the case there will be any relief either for him or Kanimozhi.

The 87 year-old Karunanidhi, was taken aback by A Raja’s reaction…Karuna cut-short the meeting abruptly and returned, say DMK insiders.    Raja’s obstinate game-plan in the 2G trial has irritated Karunanidhi and Whispers doing rounds in the DMK is that…after once Kanimozhi is out on bail, DMK leaders and party men will be instructed to stay away from A.Raja,.   After orders are pronounced on November 3 O P Saini on Kani’s bail plea…Karunanidhi is all set to take a final call on Raja.