Karunanidhi meets Sonia, discusses seat-sharing for TN poll

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) Congress and DMK tonight heldseat-sharing talks for coming assembly elections in Tamil Naduwhen Chief Minister M Karunanidhi met Congress President SoniaGandhi here.

In the 30-minute meeting, Karunanidhi was accompanied byhis daughter and party MP Kanimozhi, Union Minister DayanidhiMaran and senior DMK leader T R Baalu. Earlier in the day,Karunanidhi had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The meeting comes a day after Karunanidhi announced thatPaatali Makkal Katchi (PMK) will be part of DMK-led alliancefor the elections in Tamil Nadu and that he will holdconsultations with Congress top brass on seat-sharingarrangement.

That the alliance between Congress and DMK will beclinched is almost final, sources in Congress say.

DMK has an uphill task in the state polls in the wake ofthe 2G spectrum allocation scam but Congress leaders say thatthey have no other option but to be a part of the DMK-ledalliance in Tamil Nadu.

Manmohan Singh had recently declared in Chennai that thealliance remained strong.

Congress'' central leaders say since DMK is the thirdlargest constituent of the UPA at the Centre, Congress cannotthink about any other ally in the state.

"The leadership wants the Central government to be safeand therefore we have to go along with DMK in the state,knowing pretty well that it was on the backfoot in the wake ofthe 2G spectrum scam," said a senior TNCC leader who declinedto be identified.

Party spokesperson Manish Tewari also indicated thatthere would be no problem on seat-sharing issue betweenthe two parties.

Asked whether seat-sharing talks between DMK and Congresswould be smooth, Tewari said "we are alliance partners both atthe Centre and in the state. Between the alliance partners,there are always constructive discussions and healthydialogue." PTI SPG AMR