CHENNAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Monday said the party had emerged stronger now and glory and success had dawned on it despite revolt by two erstwhile functionaries.

The MDMK general council meeting convened by him in Chennai on January 10 will decide on the future status of rebel leaders L. Ganesan and Gingee N. Ramachandran in the party.

Replying to queries on the possibility of forming a third alternative at the national level, Mr. Vaiko said though he would not elaborate, he was sure that 2007 would be a "... turning point at the national level and also in the State."

UPA constituent

The MDMK continued to be a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), he said. "Neither Prime Minister Manmohan Singh nor chairperson of the UPA Sonia Gandhi has announced that we are not part of the alliance."

Asked why he was keen on continuing in the UPA, Mr. Vaiko said the MDMK's decision was based on a request by the Prime Minister not to quit the alliance, though it did not want to cause any embarrassment to Dr. Singh in the wake of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) threat to leave the combine after the Assembly polls if his party remained an alliance partner.

When the MDMK's decision was conveyed to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa she also did not object, he said.

However, the party had been keeping away from the coordination committee meetings of the UPA as it had been asked to do so in view of the DMK's decision to boycott these meetings if his party participated in them.

"Affidavits given"

To a query on the `general council meeting' convened by Mr. Ramachandran at Salem on December 29, Mr. Vaiko said it had not been done as per party rules. Only around 70 of the total 1,416 general council members attended. A total of 1,300 members had given affidavits reposing faith and confidence in the party leadership.

The MDMK's ties with the AIADMK had become stronger, though attempts were made by the ruling party to break the electoral alliance. The AIADMK leadership would intervene in the appropriate time if the attacks on the MDMK crossed limits, Mr. Vaiko said.

Mullaperiyar issue

On the Mullaperiyar issue, he said the MDMK would oppose the Kerala Government's demand for a new dam, as it would affect the irrigational prospects of five southern districts in Tamil Nadu.

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