DMK concludes accord with PMK and BJP

By R.K.Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 24. The PMK founder, Dr.S.Ramadoss, called on the DMK president, Mr.M.Karunanidhi, here today, marking a symbolic renewal of the alliance between the two parties and successful conclusion of the seat-sharing talks for the local bodies elections.

Readmitting PMK into the DMK alliance, Mr.Karunanidhi said he welcomed the party ``forever and with affection.''

The PMK, which quit the DMK front in February this year to align with the AIADMK for the Assembly elections, is now formally back in the DMK alliance.

Allotting one Mayoral seat each to the PMK and the BJP, the DMK wrapped up the alliance with two major parties. Discussions were on with the others in the alliance, including the DPI, the DMK maintained.

Emerging after a brief meeting at the DMK headquarters, Dr.Ramadoss said he was ``very happy'' with the outcome. The alliance was firm and the details of seat-sharing would be decided at the local levels between the two parties.

Dr.Ramadoss maintained that he welcomed the DPI being in the alliance and that the party should remain in the DMK-led front.

The DMK will contest the Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tirunelveli Mayoral seats. The BJP has been given Coimbatore and the PMK, Salem. A decision on the other seats including that of municipal chairmen and district unions will be taken later.

DPI decision today

The DPI leader, Mr.Thirumavalavan, who met Mr.Karunanidhi earlier in the day, tonight said that a final decision on the alliance would be announced tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the MGR-ADMK said that it had begun seat- sharing talks with the DMK.

Addressing presspersons, the DMK president said the MDMK leader, Mr.Vaiko, had conveyed to the State BJP leaders his unwillingness to join the DMK-led front.

Answering questions, Mr.Karunanidhi said he hoped that AIADMK agitation against the Supreme Court and the burning of effigies had come to the notice of the Governor.

Visibly annoyed at the anti-Karunanidhi and anti- Vajpayee protests, the DMK leader said the decision to buy government- owned TANSI land was Ms.Jayalalithaa's and was not prompted either by him or the Prime Minister.

In a statement, Mr. Karunanidhi charged that Ms.Jayalalithaa launched a campaign of misinformation and made it appear as if it was the DMK and the BJP, which were responsible for her problems. The AIADMK cadres again launched the same campaign to malign the DMK and the BJP, just because it worked last time.

People interested in the working of a ``decent democracy'' should ponder whether burning effigies under these circumstances was warranted, he said.

The BJP State president, Dr.S.P.Kirubanidhi, condemned the burning of effigies of the Prime Minister. He wondered why the police were not taking action against the people who attempted to burn effigies of Mr.Vajpayee. The Governor should take steps to prevent this behaviour, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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