DPA break-up not to impact UPA: Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Mar 4: The break-up in Tamil Nadu UPA, known in that state as Democratic Progress Alliance (DPA) led by DMK, caused by Mr Vaiko's decision to ally his party, MDMK, with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's AIADMK would not affect the political combination at the Centre, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said today (Mar 4, 2006).

''It would not have any impact on UPA,'' Mr Dasmunsi told reporters who sought his reaction to the development after the Minister had held a press briefing on the decisions taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Congress leader was initially hesitant to respond to the question, stating that he was not competent to make comments on political developments.

The MDMK, which had fought the 2004 Lok Sabha polls as part of the UPA/DPA, today decided to part company with the DPA and fight the May 8 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu in alliance with the AIADMK.

The MDMK has four MPs in the Lok Sabha, but has no representation in the UPA Government.

A week after pledging his loyalty to the DMK, Mr Vaiko quit the alliance following differences over seat sharing.

With this, the Congress would be facing the embarrassment of fighting its own allies and supporters at the Centre in the April/May assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala (where it has warned the Left parties to be prepared for a bitter contest) and Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The Congress-ruled Assam is also headed for elections along with these places.

UNI