Talks in DMK front under way, amid pressures

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 26. Seat-sharing negotiations between the DMK and its alliance partners continued late into the evening today, as the party tried to balance internal pressures and the allies' demands while sorting out `problem' areas in municipalities and town panchayats.

The Durai Murugan committee continued its talks with the alliance party leaders to identify which of the 102 municipalities and 609 town panchayats the partners would contest. The announcement by the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, that the criterion for sharing seats would be ``winnability'' has come in handy for the PMK to project its claim.

Earlier this morning, Mr. Karunanidhi said the DMK would definitely contest the four Mayoral seats it announced. Commenting on the DPI leader, Mr. R. Tirumavalavan's announcement that his party would seek to contest one Mayoral seat in Tirunelveli, Madurai or Chennai, Mr. Karunanidhi said seat- sharing talks were not done through the media. He had only held ``policy level' talks with the DPI leader on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the DPI leadership sat down today-for the first time- for a round of long-drawn, difficult negotiations even as the DMK's talks with the PMK, which till recently was the arch-rival of the DPI, appeared to be in final stages. This has been a source of some discomfort to the DPI, as the areas of strength- north Tamil Nadu-of both the parties overlap.

Also, since the DPI leadership decided to remain in the DMK alliance despite the presence of the PMK, it is under pressure from the Villupuram-Cuddalore-Perambalur belt supporters to be seen as being given parity with the PMK at least in these three districts. This, in turn, has put pressure on the DMK, which also has to contest a ``good number of seats'' if only to keep the powerful leaders from Villupuram and Cuddalore in good humour.

In the evening, the BJP president, Dr. S. P. Kirubanidhi, met Mr. Karunanidhi, marking the successful end of the seat-sharing talks between the two parties. ``We are happy. We got much of what we asked for. The list will be released by Mr. Karunanidhi, who is the head of the NDA here'', he said.

Earlier, in a statement, Mr.Karunanidhi said the entire agitation against courts was inspired by Ms.Jayalalithaa. If Ms.Jayalalithaa was really interested in granting a demand of the southern districts (that someone from there should be Chief Minister), she should announce that Mr. Paneerselvam would hold office for the next five years. ``Is she prepared for such an announcement'', he asked.

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Section  : Southern States
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