The Hindu Business Line : DMK will wait, not to join Govt for now

THE Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has decided that it will not join the Congress (I)- led government at the Centre for the time being. It will wait and watch before taking a decision.

At the DMK's executive committee meeting in Chennai today, it resolved to leave to its president, Mr M. Karunanidhi, the decision on the DMK joining the Union Cabinet.

He will come to a conclusion after observing the approach of the Congress-led Government to be formed under the leadership of Ms Sonia Gandhi, and giving it enough time.

Briefing reporters after the executive committee meeting, Mr Karunanidhi declined to elaborate on the reasons for the DMK's decision. The party had come to the conclusion based on discussions of the committee, he said.

He would leave for Delhi tomorrow to meet Ms Gandhi, he said.

On the decision of the other parties in the Democratic Progressive Alliance, which the DMK led to victory in the parliamentary elections, he said that the alliance had been forged for the elections alone.

Whether they would join the Cabinet was up to the individual parties, he said.

The Democratic Progressive Alliance swept the polls and cornered all the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone Pondicherry seat. The DMK won 15 seats and the IUML, which contested under the DMK banner, 1; Congress 10; PMK 5; MDMK 4; and the CPI and CPI (M) two each.

The MDMK has decided that it will not join the government. The Left parties' decision is up to the Central leadership.