No headway in AIADMK-Cong. talks

By Radha Venkatesan and

R. K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 26. The AIADMK's seat-sharing talks with the Congress for the civic elections seemed to be floundering, while the CPI(M) rejected its offer of four per cent seats. But it almost wrapped up a pact with its other allies - the TMC and the CPI.

The State CPI (M) has convened an emergency meeting of the party's secretariat here for tomorrow to decide its strategy. Peeved at the ``measly offer of four per cent seats'', the party delegation is said to have informed the AIADMK's election panel that it would be left with no option but to make an exit from the secular alliance.

The AIADMK's informal talks with the Congress too made no headway as the latter put forward an `unrealistic demand' for greater share of seats than the TMC. The Congress wanted to be placed on a higher pedestal than the G.K.Vasan-led TMC, but the AIADMK made it clear that the party was welcome, only if it accepted about 8 per cent of seats. The talks could continue tomorrow.

The AIADMK has agreed to part with 25 per cent of seats and one Mayoral seat for the TMC. After the TMC president, Mr. G. K. Vasan, called on the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalithaa yesterday and finalised the sharing, a delegation of the party seniors and the AIADMK's election panel met this evening to identify the seats.

The CPI appears to be satisfied with the offer which included five municipal chairmanships.

In the Opposition camp, the DMK, which brought together the PMK and the DPI into its alliance yesterday, suffered a setback when the Congress Jananayaga Peravai led by Mr.P.Chidambaram decided to chart its own course.

It also faced embarrassment from its Dalit ally, Puthiya Tamilagam, which claimed it had not been invited to seat- sharing talks. In a statement from New York, the Puthiya Tamilagam president, Dr. K. Krishnasamy said, the DMK had made no effort to contact his office in Chennai, though it had invited other allies.

Earlier in the day, the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, told the media here that the coming-together of the DPI and the PMK was not only electorally significant but would help to bring about greater unity and cooperation between the Dalits and Vanniars. Meanwhile, the State Congress has finalised its first list of candidates and kick-started informal negotiations for alliance with a few caste outfits including the Makkal Tamil Desam.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Two killed in city: No forecast on tremors
Next     : Ministers not involved in effigy burning: CM