The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : DMK talking to alliance partners: Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DMK talking to alliance partners: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Terms by-poll result a victory for party-led combine

CHENNAI : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Tuesday that his party was talking to Democratic Progressive Alliance partners from time to time on various issues.

Asked if a meet of the DPA would be convened, as demanded by the Communist Party of India, Mr. Karunanidhi told presspersons here that the DMK was talking to each of the partners on the local body elections. "We will talk to everyone."

On former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's demand for enactment of an anti-defection law at the local body level, he said that Ms. Jayalalithaa was making such a demand now. When she was in power, the State Election Commission had written to the Government in 2004 on the need for such a law. Though the AIADMK was in power for two years after this letter was written, no action was taken.

On PMK demand

Commenting on the demand of Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S.Ramadoss for a reversion to the two-tier system of governance at the local level, he said that the DMK was also for it. The present system was good in that it ensured that the elections were held on time. But the DMK was of the opinion that the Kamaraj model of two-tier local self-government was the best. The DMK had also made this suggestion when the draft Bill for the present three-tier system was being discussed.

Asked if he would lead a delegation to New Delhi to discuss the Sri Lankan question, as demanded by Dr. Ramadoss, Mr. Karunanidhi wondered if representatives of all parties would accompany him to New Delhi to represent to the Centre on the Sri Lankan issue. "In particular, will the representatives of the party that rules the Centre [Congress] come for this issue," he asked. In his opinion, if there were an opportunity to hold such a discussion here, he would not bypass it.

He thanked the people of Madurai for the victory in the by-election and said it was a victory for the alliance. The people voted for the alliance because of gratitude arising out of the fact that the DMK was fulfilling all the alliance promises.

On the reasons for the victory, he said that it was a result of the achievements of the DMK Government. It was a reply to those who said after the Assembly elections that the DMK Government would not fulfil the promises made. The false propaganda of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa — that the DMK would not fulfil its promises — stood exposed, he said. Asked which of the schemes he thought had the most impact on the people, Mr. Karunanidhi singled out the rice at Rs. 2 a kg and land to the landless farmers. On the performance of the DMDK, he said that it was a progress that deserved to be commended. Asked if the local body poll results would be similar to the Madurai Central verdict, he said: "We hope so."

Later, the elected candidate, Ghouse Basha, along with Mr. Karunanidhi's son, M.K.Alagiri, Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Madurai DMK district office-bearers met the Chief Minister and presented him with a shawl.

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