Trust vote: Maran considers abstaining despite DMK warning

Chennai, July 17: DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran continued to toy with the option of abstaining from voting during the July 22 trust vote in Lok Sabha even after a stern warning issued by party leader and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that action would be taken against MPs defying the party whip to vote for the motion.

Sources close to Maran, grand-nephew of Karunanidhi, said that almost all leaders of UPA parties had telephoned him seeking his support. "But none of the DMK leaders tried to reach him. Is this the way a party treats its MP," they said.

Asked whether Maran, a former Union Minister, would stick to his reported decision to abstain from voting, the sources said: "the reports are based on rumours. But he has not denied it so far."