The Hindu Business Line : DMK to decide on joining Govt tomorrow

THE Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will decide on Saturday whether it will participate in the Congress-led Government in the Centre, according to its President, Mr M Karunanidhi.

He was addressing a press conference here this evening after the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance won all the 40 Lok Sabha constituencies - 39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Pondicherry. Mr Karunanidhi said that he would discuss with his party colleagues at the meeting of the executive body before deciding on the issue.

The Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and senior leader, Dr Manmohan Singh, had invited him to participate at the Centre."I have not yet accepted their invitation," he said. He would go to Delhi after the working committee meeting on Saturday and inform them of DMK's decision.

To a query on the reasons for his stand,Mr Karunanidhi replied "I will explain that at the executive body meeting." He added that the DMK could serve the people without participating in the Government. However, he was speaking only for the DMK on this issue and it was up to the other members in the alliance to decide on their party's stand, he said.

The DMK is not averse to Ms Sonia Gandhi being the Prime Minister. He had on earlier occasions made his stance clear. The time has now come for Ms Gandhi to lead the country, he said.

On whether he expected the AIADMK to step down in Tamil Nadu, he said that he would not spell that out in so many words. "But it is up to the AIADMK to accept moral responsibility for the defeat and act appropriately," he opined. Mr Karunanidhi also stated that it is unprecedented in Tamil Nadu's political history that any combine has won all the 40 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

He ascribed the defeat to communal politics at the Centre and anti-people rule in Tamil Nadu. Whether the Lok Sabha polls would precipitate early elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Mr Karunanidhi said, "I am in no hurry."