PMK may come back to our fold: Karunanidhi

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 9. There are chances of the PMK returning to the State NDA for local bodies elections, the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, said today.

However, he was not in a position to comment on the possibility of any other party coming into the alliance at this point. But there could be ``some changes in the shape of the alliance,'' he said.

When it was pointed out that the administrative committee of the DMK was to have decided on the PMK's entry in view of the opposition by the Dalit parties, Mr. Karunanidhi said today's meet also had all the members of the administrative panel. He did not respond to a question on the chances of the MDMK finding a place in the alliance. But the ``names of all parties'' came up during the discussions.

Addressing presspersons after a prolonged session with party office-bearers here, Mr. Karunanidhi said the details of the seats the DMK would contest would be decided after talks with other parties.

The discussions would be held at an ``appropriate time.'' There was time till September 20 (the time for filing nominations).

A decision on candidates for chairmanship of municipalities, district panchayats and Mayors of corporations would be taken by the high command later, he said. Asked whether the Chennai Mayor, Mr. M.K. Stalin, would be renominated, he said this decision would also be taken by the high command later.

No consensus on 2-tier panchayat raj

The DMK preferred Kamaraj's idea of a two-tier panchayat system. The new, three-tier system was Rajiv Gandhi's idea. A constitution amendment was required to bring back the old system but there was no consensus among political parties.

Hence it might not be possible to bring back the old system now, he said.

The DMK had already written to the Chief Electoral Officer on mass deletions from electoral rolls and requested that early action be initiated to include ``nearly one crore'' people who had been left out, Mr. Karunanidhi said. This was also mentioned in the Governor's address to the Assembly.

Asked whether this issue or the water crisis could lead to a postponement of the polls, he said as per the law, the elections could not be postponed.

Commenting on the Cauvery issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said that at a time when crops in the delta were withering, the Chief

Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, instead of wasting time on accusing the DMK, should give up her ``intransigent stand'' on the Cauvery Water Authority and impress upon the Prime Minister the need for his chairing the meeting of the Chief Ministers of the basin States.

Asked whether he would talk to the Prime Minister on the issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said he would do so, if it was required of him.

The DMK leader, responding to questions on the ``cement scam'' and the attempted sale of the State-owned cement factory, said the Finance Minister, Mr. C. Ponnaiyan, should prove the charges. When it was pointed out that the Minister had said a Government Order (GO 75) formed the basis for the scam and led to problems in the small scale sector, he said Mr. Ponnaiyan was ``misleading the Assembly.''

Mr. N. Veerasamy, who was present and detailed the events, said the DMK had in 1995 prevented the sale of the company.

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