A party release here tonight said the ceremony would be held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium at 1000 hrs on Saturday. All alliance party leaders would attend the swearing-in ceremony, the release said.

As no ally expressed a desire to seek a share in power, the DMK will form the government on its own, with outside support of allies.

The DMK, on its own, secured 86 seats and its allies, the Congress 34, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) 18, CPI(M) 9 and CPI 6.

Mr Karunanidhi, who would be turning 83 next month, would be formally elected as leader of the legislature party at a meeting of new MLAs convened by the party here tomorrow.

The octogenarian, who registered his record 11th successive victory, would take up the reins of the state for the record fifth time. He became Chief Minister in 1969, following the death of his mentor and DMK stalwart C N Annadurai and again in 1971, when the DMK had an impressive win, securing on its own, 184 seats.

After being out of power for more than a decade, Mr Karunanidhi staged a comeback in the 1989 elections. After losing power in the 1991 hustings, he again romped to power in the 1996 elections, assuming office as Chief Minister for the fourth time.

UNI RV/WS AA MIR RS2036