It's a DMK-led front: Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE, FEB. 23. Opening the doors for the Dalit Panthers of India to enter the DMK-led front, the Chief Minister and DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, today insisted that the DMK, and not the BJP, headed the NDA in Tamil Nadu.

In a prepared reaction to the announcement of the DPI that it was willing to enter into an alliance with the DMK if a separate front, independent of the NDA at the Centre, was formed in Tamil Nadu, he said: ``The DMK is in the NDA at the all-India level, and the DMK leads the NDA poll alliance in Tamil Nadu.''

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Karunanidhi clarified that the DPI convenor, Mr. R. Thirumavalavan, had not laid down conditions for aligning with the DMK. ``He has not mentioned any condition and this is my response to his statement (on the possibility of joining a DMK-led front).'' While opining that there was a possibility of a third front emerging in the present circumstances, he ruled out further talks with the TMC on alliance.

To a question on whether the DMK would ``dump'' the BJP in favour of aligning with parties such as the TMC, he answered with a firm ``No!''

Similarly, he said there was no possibility of a coalition Government in Tamil Nadu after the elections. Talks on seat- sharing would begin after February 25 when a consultative meeting with various party leaders would be conducted.

Actual negotiations would be carried out by a committee including Messrs N. Veerasamy, S. Durai Murugan and Ko. Si. Mani, Ministers.

Asked whether the AIADMK leader, Ms. Jayalalitha, would be able to contest the elections, he said: ``As per the precedent, the law and the Supreme Court judgment, she would not be able to contest.'' However, he hastened to add that he was not for shutting her out of the elections and would like to have a democratic contest.

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Section  : Southern States
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