In an interview to CNN-IBN television channel, the DMK leader, who had demanded the ouster of MDMK from the UPA, soon after it quit the DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu said ''''if MDMK remains in the front, the DMK will not be there.'''' With just three days left for the state assembly elections, Mr Karunanidhi has warned, ''''throw Vaiko out otherwise the DMK will quit the front.'''' With the ball now being pushed into the UPA''s court, the Congress was expected to initiate immediate action as it could not afford to not antagonise DMK, a key constituent in the UPA, any further.

The MDMK, has four MPs and the UPA government would face no danger if the party was pushed out of the front. It was almost three months since the DMK leader had demanded the ouster of MDMK from the UPA and so far the Congress has turned a deaf ear to the demand.

Both Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had openly admitted during their electioneering in Tamil Nadu that the people''s massive mandate to the DMK led DPA had helped the UPA to form the government at the centre.

Mr Vaiko, who was with the DPA in the May 2004 Lok Sabha elections, quit the front after failing to reach a seat-sharing agreement with the DMK the May eight assembly elections.

After refusing to join the Ministry at the centre, Mr Vaiko had said that the party, even after quiting the DPA, would like to continue support to the Manmohan Singh government.

To another question on the possibility of coalition government Mr Karunanidhi said the party was not averse to sharing power with the allies if the situation warranted. Such a coalition would not face any problem as it was working well at the Centre, he added.

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