Vaiko said he told Vajpayee that he wanted to concentrate on party work. He thanked the PM for the offer but declined it. ``I will be a pillar of strength to you in Parliament,'' Vaiko assured Vajpayee.

Asked if the MDMK would send other nominees to the Union Ministry, Vaiko said he had made certain suggestions to the PM regarding the participation of the MDMK in the Government. ``However, I made it clear that I am not making any demands. The matter is entirely upto Vajpayee. Ministry formation is entirely the prerogative of the Prime Minister. We will abide by his decision, whatever it may be.''

During Vajpayee's earlier term too, he had asked Vaiko to join the Ministry but herefused. His party had then taken a decision not to participate in the Government. Subsequently, the MDMK reviewed the decision on Vajpayee's pressure (when the Government was shaky after AIADMK's threats of pull-out) and Vaiko agreed that an MDMK nominee could be made a Minister. MDMK MP Senjee Ramachandran's name was suggested. However, the proposal fell through when the AIADMK objected to the expansion since its demands on cabinet changes were not considered.