Anbumani expresses readiness to quit

Chennai, Jun 20 (UNI) Senior PMK leader and Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today said he was ready to quit his Ministerial post if he was asked to do so by the party high command.

Speaking at the emergent General Council of the PMK, convened to discuss the future course of action following its ouster from the DMK-led DPA, Dr Ramadoss said ''I will resign the moment party asks me to do so.'' ''If party chief S Ramadoss (who is also his father) asks me to resign, I will immediately resign,'' he added.

Despite DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's remarks that he would not press for Dr Ramadoss' resignation, there were rumours that his berth in Union Cabinet hangs in balance.

The PMK leader also reiterated that though the party was expelled from the DPA, it would be part of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre and fight the next Lok Sabha polls as part of the UPA.

He said when he apprised AICC President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad about the PMK's eviction from the DPA, the leaders regretted that this had happened.

''They also stressed the need for unity among the DPA,'' he added.

UNI GV SJ RR BST1811