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DMK allots BJP 23 seats

DMK chief and NDA leader M Karunanidhi said an agreement to this effect was signed between him and BJP state unit president Dr S P Kirubanidhi.

The BJP was eager to be treated as the second dominant partner in the NDA.

The ruling DMK and NDA conceded Tiruchirappalli to it for the elections.

Karunanidhi said the constituencies to be contested by the BJP would be earmarked later.

He said the seat sharing parleys for Pondicherry, which also goes to polls, would be dealt with separately.

On whether second position in the alliance as sought by the BJP had been given, Karunanidhi said, "They are leading the NDA in Delhi".

On allocation of Tiruchirapalli to the BJP, he said, "It belongs to them".

Electioneering would commence once seat-sharing talks concluded.

Karunanidhi read out the signed agreement reached between the two parties.

Kirubanidhi said the arrangement was "very satisfactory".

During the second round of talks at which the accord was reached, the BJP team also included state unit vice-president K N Lakshmanan, general secretary L Ganesan and Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Pon Radhakrishnan.

Earlier in the day, there were indications of a 'forward' movement in the seat-sharing exercise, when Ganesan told PTI that in the first round of talks, his party delegation had given its 'point of view' on the situation. Thereafter, quick attempts were made to 'clinch' a deal.

Another constituent of the NDA, the MGR Kazhagam, also held its first round of talks with the DMK election committee. After a 30-minute meeting, Kazhagam General Secretary K Jagatrakshagan, told mediapersons that his party wanted to ensure the defeat of AIADMK-led front and see that DMK bounced back to power.

On how many seats his party had demanded, he said he was confident that adequate numbers would be given by the NDA head and he saw no hitch.

The Kazhagam was led by former minister and joint deputy general secretary T Ramasamy and deputy general secretary M R Rajaram, besides Jagatrakshagan.

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