Manmohan Singh , P Chidambaram in A Raja’s tell-all book

Former Union communications minister A. Raja’s tell-all book, titled In My Defence, reportedly puts former Union finance minister P. Chidambaram in the dock, assailing him for his silence on the allocation of 2G spectrum. The author reportedly charges Mr Chidambaram with scuttling his chances of appearing before the joint parliamentary committee. The author also drags former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into the muddle, arguing that the 2G spectrum allocation decision was a collective one approved by key ministers in the UPA Cabinet.

The sensational charges made are, however, unlikely to rock the ties between the DMK and the Congress, which seems to be getting closer after the one-week suspension of DMK MLAs from the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

DMK sources are already distancing themselves from the to-be released book saying that it has nothing to do with the party. Besides, the book only explains the circumstances and facts surrounding the 2G spectrum case and as the title suggests, he is only defending himself rather than accusing anyone.

Mr Raja had filed an affidavit in the special court trying the 2G spectrum case and the submission itself contained everything about the joint responsibility of Mr Chidambaram and Manmohan Singh in decision making behind the spectrum allocation.

The book may merely repeat his court arguments known to everyone, one of the functionaries said.

“The contentions do not come as a bolt from the blue and the Congress renewed its ties with the DMK for the recent Assembly elections after the affidavit was filed. The same arguments are unlikely to change the relationship between the two parties in future too. Whatever the two parties decide about electoral alliances in future will have nothing to do with Mr Raja’s book,” he added.

In fact, the state Congress is doing everything to keep the ties intact after the one-week suspension of DMK members from the Assembly.