PMK-TRC row can be resolved: Kirubanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 25. The state president of the BJP, Dr. S.P. Kirubanidhi, said here today that he was `optimistic' that an early solution would be found to the continuing row between two of the NDA constituents - the PMK and the TRC.

``This is unnecessary. All that it needs is a table and two chairs so that the two parties can sort it out. We are confident that Mr. M. Karunanidhi, as the NDA's leader in the state will be able to find an amicable solution to this problem. He has the age and the experience to handle it'', Dr. Kirubanidhi noted.

He expected a meeting of the NDA constituents to take place even next week, depending on the convenience of all the parties. Apart from initiating talks on the seat-sharing exercise, the PMK-TRC row could also be sorted out at this meeting.

As far as the BJP was concerned, the state chief made it clear ``We want this to end. We have conveyed our concern to both the parties and appealed to the Chief Minister to put an end to this issue.'' He was confident it would not affect the chances of the NDA in the coming Assembly election. He said all speculation of a break in the NDA or the departure of any party from it was `very hypothetical'.

Asked how many seats his party would want to contest, Dr. Kirubanidhi said ``We have identified 62 constituencies in the whole state. A committee would review the whole picture once again and then we will select the winnable seats. I am not prepared to specify the number of seats now. It is for the NDA as a whole to discuss and decide''.

The BJP chief criticised the `secular front' for what he called `the human chain drama' and wondered why none of them ever bothered about the victims of the Coimbatore blasts. ``They must remember that the Orissa incident took place during the Congress (I) regime and an Inquiry Commission had made it clear that no organisation was behind the burning of Graham Staines'', he added.

Answering a question on the AIADMK leader, Ms. Jayalalitha's meeting with the Rajya Sabha member, Mr. Cho S. Ramaswamy, Dr. Kirubanidhi said ``Let me make it clear that Mr. Ramaswamy is not a member of the BJP. If they met as friends, it is their business''.

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Section  : Southern States
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