DMK pulls out of UPA government, to provide issue-based support

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday decided to pull out of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre after talks between the two parties on seat-sharing for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections failed.

The party would, however, continue to provide 'issue-based support' to the Central government.

The decision was taken at a DMK leadership meeting chaired by party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and attended by senior leaders including Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

A DMK statement said that the Congress demand for 63 seats even after the DMK expressed its readiness to concede 60 showed it was not keen on having it as an ally.

"Hence we have decided to pull out," the statement said.

DMK leader T.R. Baalu said that DMK ministers have been asked to go to New Delhi and submit their resignations to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The DMK currently has six ministers in the Union Cabinet.

The Congress-DMK seat sharing talks had plunged into a crisis on Friday night after the DMK expressed its displeasure over the constantly rising demands of the Congress.

Karunanidhi had issued a statement in Chennai past midnight asking whether it was proper for the Congress, which had agreed for 60 seats earlier, to now demand 63 seats.

"After having agreed to 60 seats, is it proper on the part of the Congress to demand 63 seats now and, on top of that, say that it would contest the elections in the constituencies of its choice?" Karunanidhi had said.

There are only 17 days left for the filing of nominations to begin and the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission has given parties less time for campaigning as compared to earlier elections.

The DMK has completed the seat sharing exercise with minor allies like the PMK, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the IUML and the Movendar Munnetra Kazhagam.u00a0 (ANI)