PMK ink pact with DMK, bags 31 seats for TN polls

Chennai, Mar 10: The DMK today finalised seat-sharing pact with the PMK by alloting it 31 seats for the May eight polls to the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

An agreement to this effect was signed by DMK President M Karunanidhi and PMK Founder Leader S Ramadoss at the DMK headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam.' With this, the DMK, heading the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu, had wrapped up seat sharing arrangements with all its constituents.

The PMK had contested 27 seats in alliance with the AIADMK in 2001 Assembly elections. After the exit of MDMK from the front, the DMK could allot more seats to all its constituents.

The Congress secured the maximum of 48 seats followed by PMK (31), CPI (M) (13), CPI (10) and IUML (3). The DMK is expected to allot one seat each to the MGR Kazhagam led by Former Minister R M Veerappan and Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam led by Dr Sethuraman.

However, they will contest the polls on DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol like the IUML.

Talking to newspersons, Dr Ramadoss said he was happy over the allocation of seats but not satisfied. ''There is a difference between happiness and satisfaction. As far as allocation of seats is concerned, the PMK has made some sacrifice. ''But our motive is to dislodge the Jayalalithaa Government and we have been fighting for this for the last four years. For achieving the task, we have to make some sacrifices and I am happy about it.

''There have been reports in the media that the PMK will be allotted more seats. But the DMK has been neither generous nor miserly. We will work together to dislodge Ms Jayalalithaa and bring Mr Karunanidhi as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,'' the PMK chief said.

UNI