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CHENNAI : Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider the decision to disinvest 10 per cent equity in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation.

In a fax to Mr. Singh on Sunday, a copy of which was released to the Press, he said: "The views raised opposing the disinvestment of ten per cent share in Neyveli Lignite Corporation cannot be ignored by the Central Government. It would be construed that any deviation from the accepted Common Minimum Programme, whatever reasons we may give, would amount to diluting the already agreed principles. Therefore, this decision to disinvest [should] be reconsidered."

Talking to presspersons after the conclusion of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam district secretaries meeting at the party headquarters here, Mr. Karunanidhi said the party would join the agitation called to protest against the decision. Though the DMK was part of the Union Government, he had sent the letter as the Chief Minister.

Answering a question, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was not aware if any of the DMK Union Ministers had taken part in the meeting that decided on the disinvestment.

Mr. Karunanidhi said the two-hour district secretaries' meeting discussed party issues and also the upcoming local body polls. Asked about the comments of some Congress leaders that their party should contest the polls alone, Mr. Karunanidhi said TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy had said that the Congress would face the elections in alliance with the DMK.

On the situation in some Dalit villages where Dalits were prevented from contesting, the Chief Minister said he felt that it was not correct to insist that Dalits should not contest.

Third front

On the moves to form a third front, he said in the present political situation there could be a fifth and even a sixth front.

Asked if a third front would cause problems for the UPA Government, he said there would be no danger. On the DMK stand on the third front, he said, "Let it come, we will see."

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