UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has confided in the outgoing fertiliser minister MK Alagiri that she was surprised when DMK decided to sever ties with the UPA government.

She told Alagari that his father (Karunanidhi) should have at least taken prime minister Manmohan Singh or her into confidence.

The conversation took place at the PM’s Office when Alagiri went to hand over the letter of resignation. As Alagiri entered the office, the PM stood up in respect and this action surprised Alagiri. He was asked me to wait for some time as Sonia Gandhi was expected there shortly.

Napolean, a minister of state, who accompanied Alagiri saw the PM holding Alagiri’s hand and remembering how Karunanidhi first phoned him to convey that DMK would support Sonia Gandhi’s candidature for the prime minister and it was he who first rejected that Sonia was not a foreigner.

When asked Alagiri to react to P Chidambaram statement that centre was surprised about the happenings in Chennai, Alagiri said that seniors in DMK were also taken aback with the sudden development.

Alagiri blames TR Baalu, Stalin for DMK pull-out
Some mediapersons called up Alagiri to tell that DMK leader TR Baalu was coming with withdrawal letter. An angry Alagiri said, "TR Baalu is being high-handed in approaching president Pranab Mukherjee without informing me."

AICC feels the entire episode of creating a crisis-like situation in the UPA is a handiwork of MK Stalin and TR Baalu.

Sonia Gandhi asked P Chidambaram, Kamal Nath and Manish Tiwari to hold a media briefing. However, Alagiri refused to speak on camera. He said the DMK pull-out was the handiwork of Baalu and Stalin.