COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

PMK begins talks on alliance with DMK

In a significant development, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder-leader Dr S Ramadoss today held preliminary talks with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on forging an alliance for the next Lok Sabha election.

The meeting, which took place at Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence, appeared to have set at rest speculation that the PMK, which had fought the last election in alliance with the All-India Anna DMK, might go with that party again.

Describing the meeting as a "friendly political one", Dr Ramadoss said the talks were based on the feedback he had received from the PMK cadres. The final decision will be taken at the PMK executive and general council meetings.

Asked whether the PMK would be part of the DMK-led front, Dr Ramadoss, who was accompanied by Union Petroleum Minister and Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress leader Vazhapadi K Ramamurthy, quipped: "Why should I come here if the PMK doesn't want to be part of the front?"

Karunanidhi said he was happy with the outcome of the talks.

But Dr Ramadoss said he had not discussed the issue of sharing seats with Karunanidhi.

Asked about his meeting with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Kanshi Ram yesterday, Ramadoss said the talks pertained to the national scenario and Tamil Nadu politics did not not figure there.

Emerging from the talks, a beaming Ramamurthy said: "A grand alliance is going to be formed. It will sweep the polls."

Asked whether the doors were still open for the Tamil Maanila Congress, the estranged ally of the DMK, Karunanidhi shot back: "Why are you asking about them? They are not likely to come here."

But he added: "The DMK will not say no to the TMC if it comes forward to join us, but it appears that they have already taken a decision and acted upon it."

Taking exception to the TMC, the Left parties and the Janata Dal for criticising the DMK at a public meeting in Madras on April, he said: "As friends, they could have spoken to me personally, instead of airing their views in public."

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report