Cong. willing to give more seats to AIADMK in Pondy

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8. The Congress(I) today indicated that it was prepared to offer a few more seats to the AIADMK in Pondicherry as a goodwill gesture.

It, however, remains firm on retaining its position as the dominant partner and on not sharing power with the PMK.

Its latest offer will be conveyed by the Pondicherry Chief Minister, Mr. Shanmugham, and the PCC chief, Mr. Narayanswamy, when they call on the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, tomorrow.

The two leaders and the former PCC chief, Mr. Vaidyalingam, left for Chennai this evening.

The party's decision came at a meeting with the AICC general secretary incharge of Pondicherry, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, and the Pondicherry leaders. The Lok Sabha MP, Mr. M.O.H.Farooq, was also present.

The Congress(I) offer came after Mr. Shanmugham, who arrived in Delhi last night after having intense negotiations with Ms. Jayalalitha, apprised the high command of the talks.

Mr. Azad told newspersons after his meeting with the Pondicherry leaders that they had discussed the issues arising out of the talks with Ms. Jayalalitha and now these leaders will again confer with her and the TMC chief, Mr. Moopanar.

He made it clear that the party's bottomline remained not sharing power with the PMK and maintaining its dominant position in Pondicherry.

He said his party was willing to accommodate the AIADMK as much as possible. ``Our attempt is to take them along.''

The Congress(I), alongwith the TMC, was capable of doing well in Pondicherry and was confident of forming the Government.

The Pondicherry leaders would report back to the party leadership the outcome of their talks with Ms. Jayalalitha. ``We are confident that things will fall into place.''

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