TN CM denies Bardhan's allegation on DMK

Chennai, Aug 25 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi today denied CPI general secretary A B Bardhan's charge that the DMK had already made up its mind to chuck out CPI from the DMK-led Democratic Progressove Alliance (DPA).

In a statement here, Mr Karunanidhi said there was no basis for Mr Bardhan to say that the DMK had already taken a decision to expel the Left parties from the DPA in the state.

Stating that he held high regards for Left party leaders like Mr Bardhan, D Raja, Parakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, besides the state unit leaders, Mr Karunanidhi said the DMK would never snap ties with its allies on its own.

''I want to tell Mr Bardhan that the DMK never intended to snap ties with our allies, especially with the like-minded parties like, the Left parties,'' he said.

He said it was the prerogative of political parties to take decisions on alliance and forging electoral ties, but as far as DMK was concerned, it never came forward to snap ties with allies on its own.

Mr Karunanidhi said when his ministerial colleague Arcot N Veerasamy criticised the Left parties, he had admonished him saying his remarks went against party's approach towards allies.

He had also appealed to partymen not to air their views against the Left parties, till they announced their decision on the question of alliance with the DMK, Mr Karunanidhi said, adding this clearly showed that the DMK had not taken any anti-Left stand.

On the other hand, it was the CPI, which had launched a tirade against the DMK, the Chief Minister said and cited reports appeared in ''Janasakthi'', party organ of CPI, since August 5 against the DMK government.

CPI(M)'s party organ ''Theekadhir'' also came out with such reports, Mr Karunanidhi said, adding he had conveyed his dismay to the national leaders of the two Left parties.

Talking to newspersons at Hosur yesterday, Mr Bardhan said ''I am sorry to say that even Karunanidhi has chosen to speak in a language to show that he does not want us. Probably he has made up his mind.

We also do not want to be part of this alliance.'' UNI WS KVV SP UCS1540