DMK snaps ties with PMK

Chennai, Jun 17 (UNI) The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu today parted ways with its ''long irksome'' ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), dramatically heralding a possible realignment of political forces in the state.

The DMK High-Level Action Committee, which met here to review its ties with the PMK in the wake of PMK Treasurer J Guru making disparaging remarks against the DMK leadership and the party adopted a resolution to this effect this evening, marking the end of two-year-long honeymoon between the two parties.

Addressing a crowded press conference after the more-than-one-hour long meeting, DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said it was not possible to continue the alliance when the PMK violated the coalition dharna.

He said when Mr Guru failed to express regret after heaping insults on the DMK and its leaders, throwing a challenge to their self respect and when the party also failed to take action against him, it was not possible to continue the alliance, withstanding the insults.

''The high-level action committee express with regret that it was no more possible to continue the ties with the PMK,'' he said.

The DMK leader, heading the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in the state, however, said he would not ask the Congress, heading the UPA at the Centre to remove the PMK from the coalition or from the UPA Ministry.

The snapping of ties with the PMK would have no impact on the stability of the DMK Government as it enjoyed the support of the Congress and the Left Parties.

The PMK had been the ''nagging'' ally of the DMK since it came to power in May 2006 with the support of its allies.

The relations between the two parties hit a low many times, but it took a turn for the worst when DMK Treasurer Arcot N Veerasamy handed over a cassette containing Mr Guru's inflamatory speech to Mr Karunanidhi last week at a marriage function and demanded the party high command take a decision on the continuance of alliance.

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