DMK would secure not less than 200 seats in polls:

Chennai, Apr 22: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Karunanidhi President M Karunanidhi today claimed the DMK led six-pary Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) would secure not less than 200 seats in the May eight Assembly elections.

Talking to newspersons at Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, the DMK leader, who was campaigning in the southern districts, said second phase of campaigning was very encouraging and successful.

Mr Karunanidhi, who had said the party was not averse to a Coalition Government, couple of days ago, said the front was sure to get not less than 200 seats in the elections to 234 Assembly seats.

On Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa making fresh announcements, especially like ten kg of free rice, Mr Karunanidhi said she was coming out with such announcements, just to counter the DMK.

Answering a question, he said the DMK, if voted to power, would consider providing total tax exemption to handloom weavers.

Mr Karunanidhi said the party has promised free power to powerloom weavers and if they wanted to switch over to powerlooms, the party would provide subsidy-linked financial assistance to them, on coming to power.

On diverting west-flowing rivers in Kerala, Mr Karunanidhi said the Kerala Government was against this, as it would lead to inundation of several villages. The issue needed to be discussed at length, he added. Asked about Kerala Government's refusal to honour the Supreme Court order on raising the water level, he said it was believed the AIADMK, in its election manifesto, had opposed to raising the dam level.

To a question on Women Self Help Group (SHGs), Mr Karunanidhi claimed the groups were formed during the previous DMK regime in 1989. The AIADMK Government could not take credit for this, as they could not be run without financial assistance from the Centre and Banks', he added.

He alleged that it was very unfortunate that the AIADMK Government was misusing the SHGs for political gains.

On ruling party's claim that Tamil Nadu continued to be a ''heven of peace'', he said it was not that the state was free from violence.

UNI