CHENNAI, July 14: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi shocked the UF today by threatening to withdraw its ministers from the United Front government. A final decision will be taken only on July 27 at the party's general council meeting if and only if the UF does not set its house in order, says Karunanidhi.

The provocation for Karunanidhi's virulent attack against some leaders of the UF has apparently come in retaliation to what he clearly perceives as brinkmanship by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in collusion with the CPM and some others in the Janata Dal.

Although the DMK chief did not spell out names, it is clear that he has Gowda in mind when he told The Indian Express that some persons have adopted the policy of ``after me, the deluge''. Asked to clarify, Karunanidhi said, ``Some persons think that after them, no one should rule the country''.

``I am against this scorched-earth policy. They do not mind if the UF government has problems. They do not mind if the government falls. They want the government to fall, even if it means snap elections to the Lok Sabha,'' he said.

Apparently, Karunanidhi's missive has more to it than meets the eye.He himself defends his statement, saying, ``We have not yet taken the decision to pull out of the UF government. It is only at the proposal stage.''

In characteristic fashion, he says, ``Only you people in the media feel that we have already pulled out of the government. The matter is only under consideration. We have given time till July 27 to sort out the problems in the UF and set things right. If not, the DMK general council, at its meeting on July 27, will take the decision on withdrawal''. Only the general council of the party was competent to take such a decision, he added.

In other words, the warning is clear to the UF leaders to mend their ways or it's curtains for the one-year-old Front.

Karunanidhi's statement on Monday morning plunged the UF government into yet another crisis by the threat of withdrawal of four DMK ministers.

The telephone lines between Delhi and Chennai worked overtime as several leaders from the capital sought to get Karunanidhi on the line and get him to review his stand.

A worried Prime Minister I K Gujral established contact, as did many UDF leaders from various parts of the country.

Asked about the PM's initiative, Karunanidhi said, ``He has spoken to Murasoli Maran (Karunanidhi's nephew and Union Industries Minister), and Maran has left for Delhi this evening.''

Karunanidhi also confirmed that UF steering committee member and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to him on Monday soon after news of his statement reached the latter.

``We have given enough time to them to sort out things. Let us see what takes place'', Karunanidhi said.

Another vital cog in the wheel, the TMC leader G K Moopanar was closetted with Karunanidhi on Monday evening at the University Centenary auditorium where the diamond jubilee of the Tamil Nadu Assembly was celebrated.

Moopanar was with Karunanidhi for over 45 minutes. They were ostensibly having a cup of tea in a secluded portion of the lobby, zealously guarded by securitymen.

Former Maharashtra governor C Subramaniam, who recently made an appeal to Karunanidhi and Moopanar not to break the ties between the two parties , was also seen in animated conversation with Karunanidhi at this enclosure.

Karunanidhi is obviously peeved at some UF leaders who had questioned him over his support to the inclusion of RJD in UF.

``Why should some people in the UF keep out the RJD when the latter wants to support the UF government at the Centre? '', he asked.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.