Cong will not be part of TN govt: Moily

Chennai, May 12: The Congress today declared it would not take part in the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu and offered unconditional support to it.

Talking to newspersons after calling on DMK President M Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence here, AICC General Secretary Veerappa Moily, who is in-charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, said ''we assure unconditional support to the government to be formed by the DMK under the leadership of Mr Karunanidhi.'' As quid pro quo, the DMK would offer unconditional support to the government to be formed by the Congress in Pondicherry, he said.

Mr Moily said TNCC President M Krishnaswamy would give the letter of support to the DMK and to the Governor.

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Left parties, the other constituents of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), had already made it clear they would not share power and had offered unconditional support.

Incidentally, the PMK had declared in its election manifesto that it would insist on a common minimum programme for governance.

The DPA has won 163 seats in the May eight Assembly election, with DMK claiming 96 seats, 22 short of forming a government on its own.

UNI