''What prompted the octagenarian to influence the Congress to get a ministry portfolio for Mr Maran in the Union Cabinet,?'' Mr Vaiko asked while addressing various puiblic meetings here last night as part of his election campaign.

Mr Vaiko further added that said Mr Karunanidhi has no locus standi to speak about opportunistic politics.

Recalling the sufferings of DMK during the MISA period, he said, ''Mr Karunanidhi joined hands with the Congress. Later, he joined hands with the BJP, which was described by him as a communal party.

Now the same Mr Karunanidhi has again allied with Congress and is this not opportunistic policies.'' ''Even if Mr Karunanidhi was elected from the Chepauk constituency, he will not come to the Assembly, because the AIADMK will be back in power, this time, too. Hence, he would be compelled to stay away for another five years,'' he added.

Mr Vaiko said the AIADMK-led Democratic People's Front (DPF) would sweep the polls. History will repeat now what happened in 1980 when the AIADMK routed the DMK-Congress(I) alliance, he added.

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