…distances itself from DMK-PMK spat

Distancing itself from the row between the DMK and the PMK over the latter’s criticism of the women’s rally organised by the DMK in Chennai on July 1, the Congress on Thursday said the rally had nothing to do with Pratibha Patil’s nomination as UPA presidential nominee.

Asked about PMK leader S Ramadoss’ remarks about the rally, which was addressed by Patil, being “unwarranted”, senior Congress leader Devendra Dwivedi said the rally had been planned before her nomination. Ramadoss had expressed unhappiness about the seating arrangements at the women’s rally alleging that leaders had been forced to stand in the sun in the name of protocol. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunandihi had cited security reasons for this saying that it had already been announced that only Patil and he could be seated on the main dais and that others would be seated on a nearby stage.