Ruling DMK to support AIADMK for Dist Panchayat Prez post

Chennai, Dec 02 (UNI) In a rare political gesture, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, has decided to support its arch rival, the AIADMK for a District Panchayat President post in Theni district of the state.

The President post was reserved for a Dalit candidate in the District Panchayat. As the DMK, which had won six of the ten wards, did not have a Dalit candidate, it offered support to the AIADMK.

Following this, the election to the post was repeatedly postponed for want of quorum as the DMK candidates abstained the elections.

When Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) leader Thol Thirumavalavan brought this to his notice, Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi readily agreed to support the AIADMK, which had a Dalit candiate as councillor.

Answering a set of questions, Mr Karunanidhi said today said it was correct on the part of Mr Thirumavalavan to say that the DMK has offered to support the AIADMK.

Mr Karunanidhi said when the Dalit leader discussed the issue with him, he had told him that it was not a matter which party should get the post, but the post should go to a dalit. ''The DMK will not mind supporting the AIADMK to ensure that a dalit get the post,'' he had told him.

UNI WS ROY VA PM1858