After 2 decades of bitterness, Cong seals a deal with DMK

Today’s alliance was formalised after a 40-minute luncheon meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s emissary Manmohan Singh and DMK president M Karunanidhi at the latter’s Mylapore residence. TNCC president G K Vasan, former union minister T R Baalu and DMK deputy general secretary M K Stalin also attended the meeting.

Addressing a joint press conference, Singh and Karunanidhi said the modalities of seat-sharing would be discussed after the announcement of polls. Denying reports that the Congress was keen on demanding 50 per cent of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Singh said: ‘‘We did not discuss any seat-sharing today.’’

Asked if the MDMK, whose leaders were indicted by the Jain Commission probing the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, would be included in the Front, Singh said: ‘‘So many things have happened in the past. We do not want to go into the past.’’

Described his meeting with Singh as ‘‘cordial’’ and stating that he was ‘‘satisfied’’ with the outcome, Karunanidhi asserted that the MDMK would be a part of the DMK-Congress Front.

Asked whether the PMK, a constituent of the NDA and an ally of the DMK in Tamil Nadu, would also be a part of the alliance, Karunanidhi said PMK leader S Ramadoss had promised to talk to him on the issue. ‘‘I hope that they will also be part of the alliance,’’ he said.

Stating that Karunandhi would lead the Front in Tamil Nadu, Singh said: ‘‘He is a great leader and one of the builders of the nation. His life and work have inspired many in the country. I have come here to establish a new relationship of trust and confidence with him.’’

Denying that he was in the race for the prime minister’s post, Singh said the Front would decide on the ideal candidate for the top job after the polls. He also shot down the BJP’s claim that the country’s economy was ‘‘shining’’ under NDA rule. ‘‘Only stock-brokers are shining. Farmers and those who had deposited their money in the banks are suffering,’’ he said.