In an exclusive interview to UNI, Mr Karunanidhi said he would rather prefer to wait for the outcome of the hustings before deciding whether it should be a DMK government or DMK-led coalition government.

Asked about poll predictions pointing to a coalition government and whether the DMK would accommodate its allies or only those the wished to join the coalition, if the DPA secured a majority, the DMK leader, in his typical witty style, said ''let the child be born first, then we will think whether it should be named as DMK government or a DMK-led coalition government.'' Mr Karunanidhi disagreed with a suggestion that there was no anti-incumbaecy wave against the ruling AIADMK. ''People turn up like an ocean for the DMK-led DPA poll meetings,'' he said.

The octogenerian leader declared that he would ''respect and uphold the rule of law'' if he was elected as Chief Minister for the record fifth term.

The DMK supremo, who had launched a tirade against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for showing ''scant respect to judiciary,'' said ''I will respect and abide by the law if I assume office as Chief Minister.'' The remarks assumed significance as throughout his campaigning, he had highlighted the Supreme court's indictment on Ms Jayalalithaa for failing to file her income Tax returns. She was also censured by the apex court in the TANSI land deal case, he had been saying.

To a question on what impression he would like to give during his fifth term as Chief Minister, he said, ''as far as the administration is concerned, I will go by the standards set by the Justice Party.'' More UNI WS ROY AK VC1728