Cong., PMK keep harping on leadership

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, MARCH 24. While both the Congress and the PMK are keen on avoiding a third front in Pondicherry, their leaders today continued to make contradictory claims on leading a possible united secular front in the Union Territory.

Even as the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Mr. V. Narayanaswamy, reiterated that his party held the ``number one'' position in the Union Territory, the PMK's founder-leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss, stuck to his position that his party would form the next Government there.

Mr.Narayanaswamy told reporters in Pondicherry that ``for the present'', PMK was not a constituent of the secular front headed by the Congress there, adding, the AIADMK-PMK seat- sharing accord, giving 10 seats to the PMK, was not binding on the PCC.

In Mr.Narayanswamy's view, ``certain basic issues were still hanging in the balance''. The Congress' poll performance was better and hence should head the next Government there, he said.

The Congress would not brook sharing power with the PMK, as that stand was taken by the CWC. Asked whether this stand would not pave way for a third front, he said all possibilities and implications were being studied. The Congress wished to avoid a third front, he stressed. The next round of talks with the Congress high command on concluding the alliances would be held this month-end.

But a more sanguine Dr.Ramadoss, told the media in Tiruchi that all issues related to the role of the alliance partners in the secular front in Pondicherry could be solved in the next few days.

Dr. Ramadoss also welcomed the statement by the TNCC President, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, that the Congress would wholeheartedly work for the victory of the PMK candidates in Tamil Nadu. In fact, the secular front would achieve a landslide victory in both Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, he claimed.

Accusing the DMK president and Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, of splitting political parties and accommodating the splinter groups in the DMK-led front, Dr. Ramadoss said PMK's main objective was to free the people of Tamil Nadu ``from the clutches of the DMK''.

Corruption was prevalent at all levels in the DMK regime and the only exception was the Chief Minister himself, he said.

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