DPI renews appeal to PMK to form third front in TN

Chennai, Feb 23 (UNI) The Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) today renewed its appeal to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) to pull out of the DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) and head a third front to provide an alternative to the two Dravidian parties in the state.

Talking to newspersons here, DPI General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan said an ideal situation prevailed in the state during this Assembly election to provide an alternative to the people, who were 'fed up' with the rule of the AIADMK and DMK. It was time the PMK came out with a bold decision and took the lead.

If the PMK chose to remain with the DPA, the DPI, to continue and strengthen its good relations with the PMK, would work for the victory of PMK candidates in constituencies contested by it and refrain from contesting in other constituencies.

Taking serious exception to DMK President M Karunanidhi's reported remark that the PMK could give its share of seats to the DPI, if it wanted to bring the Dalit party into the DPA, Mr Thirumavalavan said this was an attempt to push the PMK into a corner and force it to exit from the DPA.

As long as there was confusion over Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK)'s continuance in the front, Mr Karunanidhi wanted the support of the PMK and DPI, but now that it had become certain that the MDMK would not quit the DPA, the DMK leader was trying to indirectly push the PMK out of the alliance, the Dalit leader alleged.

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