MDMK quits DPA, signs pact with AIADMK, but to stay with UPA

Chennai, Mar 4 (UNI) In a dramatic development, the MDMK dealt a severe blow to the DMK-led DPA, forging an electoral alliance with the AIADMK for contesting 35 seats in the ensuing Assembly polls, while deciding to stay with the Congress-led UPA at the Centre.

Shortly after clinching the deal with the AIADMK at a meeting with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence here, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko assailed DMK President M Karunanidhi for failing to honour his commitment of providing 25 seats to the MDMK.

Mr Vaiko said the party had scaled down its offer from 35 seats to 25 and then to 23, one more than offered by the DMK.

''We felt that our self-respect was insulted by Mr Karunanidhi's remarks of allotting 22 seats after promising to consider our request of 23 seats following the ongoing DMK Conference in Tiruchirapalli. So we decided to quit the DPA in the larger interests of the lakhs of party workers, who were insulted by the DMK during the last two years,'' Mr Vaiko said.

The MDMK thus renewed its alliance with the AIADMK and claimed that the combine would sweep the May eight Assembly polls.

Speaking after signing the alliance pact, Ms Jayalalithaa justified the renewal of alliance with the MDMK in the context of Vaiko's arrest under POTA and said ''there were no permanent enemies in politics''.

Both the AIADMK and MDMK would work together for the success of the combine, she added.

Reacting to the volte face by Mr Vaiko, who had promised to stay in the DPA about ten days ago, Mr Karunanidhi, in the midst of the DMK conference, denied that he had insulted the MDMK leader and said he only gave the factual position regarding the seat sharing.

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