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DMK-TMC seat-sharing pact almost ready

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Tamil Maanila Congress have almost been finalised the seat-sharing arrangement for the general election.

An announcement in this regard would be made soon, Union Industry Minister and senior DMK leader Murasoli Maran said, following a meeting between DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and TMC leader G K Moopanar.

Karunanidhi said the DMK-TMC alliance, which registered a landslide victory in the last election, continued and Moopanar's visit to the DMK headquarters on Wednesday put at rest doubts raised by some over the continuance of the alliance.

He said he did not know whether Tamil film star Rajnikanth would campaign for the combine, but the fact that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham had criticised him showed that the support of the actor and his fans was for the DMK-TMC combine.

Karunanidhi said he would hold another round of talks with Moopanar to discuss the constituency-wise prospects of the two parties and about mustering the support of other allies. He said he would also undertake a joint campaign with Moopanar. There was nothing surprising about it, he added.

Asked from whose quota the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Janata Dal would be allotted seats, Karunanidhi said, "We will seek the support of every party. We will discuss with the leaders of the party concerned on what lines the support should be."

He replied in the affirmative when asked whether the rival AIADMK led by former minister S Thirunavukarasu supported the DMK-led front.

Emerging from the talks, Moopanar said the DMK president was the leader of their front and he would hold another round of talks with him. "Everything is fine and the front which won 39 seats in the last elections, would win all the 40 seats including the one in Pondicherry.''

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
Seat-sharing arrangements in TN yet to take off

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