Minority govt in TN for first time

Chennai, May 13 (UNI) For the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu politics, a minority goverment was sworn in today under the leadership of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

The DMK octogenarian, who took up the reins of the state for the record fifth time, would head a minority government for the first time as it could win only 96 of 234 seats in the May eight elections.

After entering electoral politics for the first time in 1957, the DMK captured power in 1967 for the first time and then in 1971, 1989 and 1996, but whenever it won, it had comfortable majority.

Twenty-two seats short of a simple majority, the DMK government, sworn in by Governor S S Barnala this morning at Nehru Indoor Stadium would rely on the support of its allies--the Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Left parties- to complete its term.

However, all the allies have offered unconditional support to the DMK government, though suspense continued about the possibility of the Congress joining the government.

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