CHENNAI: The Congress has fired its first salvo at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government when party MLAs, meeting here on Friday, came out with a categorical demand for a share of power in the State. They also decided to take up the issue with their president Sonia Gandhi.

"The State unit of the party is clear in demanding a share in power," Congress Working Committee member M. Veerappa Moily, who is in-charge of party affairs in the State, told newsmen after the CLP meeting here. With this objective, he said, the CLP adopted a resolution, which said that it was of the firm opinion that the mandate of the people was for a Democratic Progressive Alliance Government (DPA) in the State under the leadership of DMK president M. Karunanidhi.

In the "interest of the stability of the government and to fulfil the expectations of the people in the State, the CLP wanted DPA partners to join hands with the Government, associating with the Cabinet and its various functions." It is also for evolving a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) on the lines of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre.

The strongly worded resolution, according to a majority of party workers reflected the sentiments and aspiration of the workers. They said that after 40 years, the party got an opportunity to be a part of the government. It should not miss the opportunity. The party, they said, was not seeking any alms from the DMK but was only insisting its right to have a share in power.

They said that voters had clearly given a verdict in favour of a coalition Ministry in the State and the DMK should respect the sentiments of the voters by forming a coalition Ministry. They said that other DPA constituents such as Pattali Makkal Katchi and Left parties might not be interested in joining the Ministry. But the Congress wanted to be a part of the Ministry, which would help in the healthy growth of the party.

By another resolution, the meeting thanked Ms. Gandhi for forging a strong alliance of the DPA in the State, which had brought a government in the State led by Mr. Karunanidhi.

New office-bearers

Mr. Moily announced that party office-bearers from the State to booth levels would be formed before August. Once these units were formed there would be party conventions at the district level, which would bring greater coordination among party units. This, he said, would revitalise the party and prepare itself for facing the local body elections in the State, which has been scheduled before the end of the year.

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