Decision on alliance soon: Moopanar

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, FEB. 12. As the Chief Minister and DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, renewed his invitation to the TMC to join the NDA, the TMC president, Mr. G. K. Moopanar, today said that the party's alliance decision would be announced `soon'.

As the meeting of the TMC's executive committee and district functionaries to ``assess their views on electoral strategy`` got underway, Mr. Moopanar sought to clarify that his party was in the secular front and not in any electoral front, as of now.

The decision on electoral alliance could not be announced today since the democratic exercise of consultations with partymen would continue tomorrow.

``In Thanjavur yesterday, I only stated that we are part of the secular front. But I have been quoted by some newspapers as saying that the TMC is part of the AIADMK front. Is it fair reporting?'' Mr. Moopanar asked.

The clarification came in response to a query on the reported statement of the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, that seat-sharing details would be disclosed tomorrow. ``I don't know what Ms. Jayalalitha told the media. But a section of the media had misquoted me yesterday as saying that the TMC is part of the AIADMK front,'' he said.

Asked if the TMC opposed the entry of the PMK in the AIADMK-led front, Mr. Moopanar said: ``The PMK is also a political party. The TMC is friendly with all political parties. We have no enemies.''

Addressing a press conference in Madurai today, Mr.Karunanidhi expressed hope that the TMC would give a ``favourable reply'' to his invitation to join the NDA. He told reporters that not only he, but also the Assembly Speaker, Mr. P.T.R. Palanivelrajan, and the leader of the House and the DMK general secretary, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, had invited the TMC to join the NDA. ``A favourable reply is expected'', he said.

Asked whether the TMC was prepared to join the NDA if it was promised a share in power, Mr. Karunanidhi said he did not want to reply to speculation. ``They (TMC) have not asked for any such thing,'' he said.

To a question on whether the TMC had laid down the condition that the DMK should break ties with the BJP, he said the TMC had not given a proper reply to the DMK invitation. ``Only after they reply, there could be conditions,'' he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said his invitation to join the NDA was not only for the TMC, but also for other ``good parties'' which were ``trapped'' in the AIADMK-led front. However, the addition of new parties into the NDA would be clear, only after the general council meeting of the DMK on February 16.On the prospects of the DMK alliance in the coming Assembly elections, he said there need be no doubt about the DMK front's victory. Asked about the possibility of a third front, he said it looked as if it were possible to predict an earthquake, but not about the formation of a third front.

The exit of the PMK from the NDA would only affect the PMK adversely, not the DMK, he said. Asked about the ``political role'' of film star, Rajnikanth, he said this depended on the actor.

The Chief Minister said that the Election Commission had claimed that nearly 63 per cent of voters had been provided with the photo-identity cards. However, his party had brought certain flaws to the notice of the Election Commission on the issue of cards. He hoped the Election Commission would sort out the ``problems''.

On the hunt for forest brigand, Veerappan, he said there was good progress, but no deadline could be fixed for nabbing him.

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Section  : Southern States
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