The DMK today put on hold the resignation of its six ministers from the UPA Government in a dramatic new turn with the party and Congress engaged in hectic negotiations to sort out their seat-sharing problems in Tamil Nadu.

On a day of hectic developments, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee telephoned DMK chief M Karunanidhi twice and urged him not to pull out his ministers from the cabinet during the Budget Session and sought a day's time to resolve problems.

"Pranab Mukherjee called our president M Karunanidhi twice during the day. The Congress has asked for a day's time.

So, the withdrawal of ministers from the government has been put on hold till tomorrow," Deputy Chief Minister and DMK treasurer M K Stalin told reporters at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai.

Asked when the issue will be resolved, Stalin said: "they have asked for a day."

AICC advises PM to accept DMK ministers' resignations

Snapping ties may have been Rahul Gandhi's call

Prime minister Manmohan Singh soon after receiving the letters of resignations from the DMK ministers on Monday is expected to forward the same to president Pratibha Patil for acceptance, according to highly placed Congress sources.

On Sunday afternoon a message was communicated from AICC to PMO about a policy decision of the Congress to snap its ties with DMK.

Once this decision was taken the natural follow-up is to accept the DMK ministers resignation from council of ministers

Meanwhile The DMK MPs have been asked to keep coll and not make any provocative statements against UPA or TNCC.

Insiders in DMK strongly suspect that it was Rahul Gandhi on whose instructions Gulam Nabi Azad abruptly ended his discussions with DMK leaders on Friday - and rushed to Delhi. And that was the last straw.

Cong, DMK set to go separate ways as DMK ministers resign

The DMK-Congress alliance appeared headed for a break with six union ministers of the regional party set to resign today even as finance minister Pranab Mukherjee appealed to Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi to reconsider his decision to pull out of the UPA government.

DMK Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu said that Mukherjee called him last night to convey to Karunanidhi that he and the party should review the decision to pull out of the government.

Baalu said he told Mukherjee that the decision was taken by the party's high-powered committee after deep thinking and considering all factors.

He also told the Congress leader that he would convey his views to the DMK chief.

However, DMK sources said there appeared to be little likelihood of a reconciliation.

The six ministers, including MK Alagiri, will meet the prime minister in Delhi and hand over their resignation.

Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, in-charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, last night met Mukherjee and discussed the situation in the state.

During the two-hour meeting, the party's strategy to deal with the developments in the southern state were discussed by the two leaders.

The two leaders will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and prime minister Manmohan Singh and brief them about the situation in Tamil Nadu.

After seat-sharing talks between the two parties collapsed, the DMK announced on Saturday its decision to withdraw its ministers from the Manmohan Singh cabinet.

The DMK yesterday seemingly hardened its stand even not ruling out Left parties joining its alliance.

After an informal meeting with his party leaders, Karunanidhi had hinted about the possibility of Left parties joining the alliance.

"Yes," he told reporters when asked whether there was a possibility of Left parties joining the DMK-led alliance.

To a question, Karunanidhi had said the Congress' demand for 63 seats over the agreed number of 60 was one of the reasons for the DMK's decision.

In Delhi, highly-placed Congress sources said the party has not yet taken any decision and was keeping "all options" open.

"Let the DMK Ministers meet prime minister (to submit their resignation)...let us see what happens," they said.

Union chemicals minister and Karunanidhi's son Alagiri had said in Chennai that his party did not expect the Congress to "come back" for a possible patch up.

"I am happy," he said when asked about DMK's decision to pull out of the UPA cabinet of which he is a part. He claimed Congress' exit from the alliance will not have any impact on DMK's poll prospects.

Before leaving for Delhi, Alagiri today said, "We will meet the prime minister and submit our resignation. Nobody from the Congress met our chief Karunanidhi".

"We will not accept anything that hurts our self respect, our pride," minister of state for social justice and empowerment D Napolean said.

He said the DMK ministers will meet the prime minister at 11 AM and give their resignation "in accordance with the decision taken by the party and on advise of Karunanidhi".

(PTI)