Karunanidhi hints at MDMK rebel faction joining DPA

Chennai, Jan 2 (UNI) DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today hinted at the possibility of the MDMK rebel faction joining the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance in the state.

'There is a possibility of a friendly party joining our alliance. Besides, members from opposition camps are coming in droves to join our party and strengthen it,' he said in an epistle to party cadre.

Writing in the DMK organ 'Murasoli,' he said the MDMK had split after rebel leaders L Ganesan and Gingee N Ramachandran convened a General Council meeting in Salem and proved 400 GC members were on their side.

Refuting MDMK General Secretary Vaiko's charge that he was attempting to split the party, he said it had happened without any effort by the DMK. Even before the split, leading functionaries and members of the MDMK had quit that party and joined the DMK, which was their parent party, he recalled.

Recalling the MDMK chief's attempts to 'capture' the DMK party's flag, symbol and headquarters in 1993, Mr Karunanidhi said when Mr Vaiko's petition in this regard came up before the Election Commission, he was camping at Salem and waiting for the outcome.

'I was waiting at the same place where the MDMK rebel leaders had now convened a General Council meeting. I told party leaders K Anbazhagan, Arcot N Veerasamy and Murasoli Maran, who were in Delhi then, over the phone that they could see me again only if they won the case.' 'I told them that would be the last time they heard from me, if the result was otherwise,' he said.

UNI