DMK would form Government on its own: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Apr 25 : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi today expressed confidence the party would form the government in Tamil Nadu, on its own, after the May eight assembly elections.

Talking to newspersons here after chairing a meeting of leaders of Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) to discuss the Cauvery issue, he said the present trend indicated that the DMK would win sufficient number of seats to form the Government on its own.

He, however, said that he had no belief in opinion polls. ''I have never taken up electioneering based on poll predictions, whether they are in favour or against the DMK,'' he added.

It may be recalled that Mr Karunanidhi, last week, talking to newspersons at Tuticorin, had said that the DMK would not be averse to forming a coalition government, if such a situation arose. The party heading the six-party alliance, is contesting from 129 seats and required a minimum of 118 seats to form Government on its own.

Mr Karunanidhi, who had returned here, after completing two rounds of campaign, said that he was immensely satisfied over the response he had recieved during his second-leg of campaign, especially in the southern districts, which were considered the stronghold of the ruling AIADMK.

On Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, hailing the DMK manifesto as the ''hero of 2006'', he said the certification given by the Finance Minsiter, would be of great help to the party to implement the promises made in the manifesto after coming to power.

UNI