The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Secular parties should remain together in State”

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Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Secular parties should remain together in State”

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thankgabalu has expressed the hope that secular parties would remain together in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance.

“It is our wish and endeavour that the secular parties should remain in the same fold in Tamil Nadu,” he said, commenting on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s plea that the Left parties should remain in the Democratic Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Thankgabalu said the objective of the Congress at the national and State levels was to defeat the communal forces. “Towards this end, we want all secular parties to come together,” he told reporters here on Wednesday.

Citing the political situation in Kerala and West Bengal, Mr. Thankgabalu did not see any reason why the Left parties should not co-exist with the Congress in the DPA, despite their differences at the national level.

The Left parties supported the Congress government until recently.

“The slight friction now is just temporary. At no point of time can a third front come to power in the country. It’s only a day dream. Are the Left parties going to support communal forces?” he asked.

Sharing of power

Asked whether the party was keen on sharing power in Tamil Nadu, he said it was a policy decision to be taken by Sonia Gandhi and the party’s central executive committee.

He denied there was any groupism in the party in Tamil Nadu.

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