Congress offers unconditional support to DMK in Tamil Nadu

Congress offers unconditional support to DMK in Tamil Nadu
Chennai | May 12, 2006 2:10:03 PM IST

With the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) emerging as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the Congress on Friday emboldened DMKs spirits by its offer of extending unconditional support in forming ministry in the state.

However, it was still not clear whether the Congress would join the government or not.

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member in charge of Tamil Nadu Veerappa Moily called on DMK president M Karunanidhi this morning and informed him of the partys decision.

Later, speaking to newspersons, Moily said that the Congress would also want the DMK to extend support in Pondicherry.

According to party sources, the Congress legislature party is expected to meet later today to discuss the possibility of joining the government.

The DMK, headed by four-time Chief Minister Karunanidhi, having won 96 seats in 234-member house, needs another 22 to get a simple majority.

The pre-poll combine of DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) won a handsome 163 out of the total of 234 seats, ousting All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

DMK ally Congress won 34 seats and other allies such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) won 18 seats, Communist Party of India-Marxist 8, CPI 6 and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) 1.

PMK and Left parties have already informed state Governor S S Barnala that they would extend outside support to a DMK ministry.

A minority government headed by Karunanidhi is to be sworn-in on Saturday.

Meanwhile, newly elected DMK MLAs are meeting today to formally elect Karunanidhi as their legislature party leader, who would later stake his claim to form a ministry, when he meets the Governor.

Karunanidhi recorded his hat-trick win from Chepuak constituency winning by a margin of 8,522 votes.

It is also for the first time that Tamil Nadu Assembly would have a strong opposition with AIADMK winning 61 seats and its allies Marumalartchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) six and two each. (ANI)

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