CUDDALORE: The former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy, has insisted that his party have alliance with only that front which would offer not less than 60 seats and agree to a power-sharing arrangement or a coalition government.

It could be either the DMK-led or the AIADMK-led front, Mr. Ramamurthy told presspersons here on Wednesday. He was here to address the Annai Indira Peravai which he described as "a forum spontaneously formed by the party men to deliberate on how to restore self-respect and dignity of the party."

Out of mutual respect he met Chief Minister Jayalalithaa recently and discussed with her the political situation. He did not moot the question of seat sharing or alliance because he was not holding any party position.

If such a thing were to happen, AICC president Sonia Gandhi should have talks with Ms. Jayalalithaa. However, he said if the party authorised him to pursue the talks, he would readily do so. Mr. Ramamurthy said the appointment of new TNCC president Krishnaswamy would not make any difference, as he too would be subservient to the DMK chief as was G.K.Vasan. What Mr. Ramamurthy wanted was a fair representation for the Vanniyar community, and not a Vanniyar president who would be at the beck and call of other allies.

Mr. Ramamurthy said: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not a Congressman, but a retired official. Mr. Singh may be an economic expert, but as far as running the party affairs is concerned he is a novice. The Prime Minister found in Mr. Vasan a readily pliable person and hence he has allocated the latter a non-descript portfolio."

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