DMK in 'no mood' to take back PMK into DPA

Chennai, Aug 30 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi today virtually shut the doors on the possible re-entry of its former ally Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) into the DMK-led DPA fold in the State.

Talking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the party district secretaries here, Mr Karunanidhi distanced himself from Senior Congress leader and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's remarks about the return of PMK into the DPA.

Mr Chidambaram, after calling on Mr Karunanidhi on Sunday, had expressed the hope that the PMK might come back to the DPA-fold and said it could not be a surprise if it happened.

When asked about Mr Chidambaramd's remarks in this regard, Mr Karunanidhi said, ''I did not say like that,'' dropping enough hints that the DMK was in no mood to take back its nagging ally.

On his remarks expressing regret about allies quitting the front, Mr Karunanidhi shot back saying ''it is quite natural that one feels sad if alliance partner walks out of the front. One cannot be happy about it.'' It may be recalled that the high level meeting of the DMK snapped ties with the PMK after the latter opposed various developmental projects launched by the DMK regime.

An inflammatory speech by PMK functionary and Vanniyar leader 'Kaduvetti'' Guru and his remarks threatening to behead DMK leaders and Union Minister A Raja did not go well with the senior leaders of the Party, including DMK Treasurer and Power Minister Arcot N Veerasamy, who demanded Mr Karunanidhi to chuck out PMK from the front.

Accordingly, the DMK high level committee subsequently met and showed the exit door to the PMK.

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