TIRUNELVELI: Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Thursday hoped that Democratic Progressive Alliance candidates would emerge victorious in the civic elections though rival candidates of alliance parties were taking on the official contenders in "some places".

"We strongly believe that it will not have any negative impact on the winning prospects of DPA candidates," Mr. Karunanidhi, who was here to kick-start the election campaign, told reporters.

He said the industrial investments in the State in the past five months and the "people-friendly schemes" of Tamil Nadu Government would give the DPA an edge.

Supporting the method of councillors electing the Mayor, he said it was introduced as some of the Mayors who did not enjoy the support of majority of council members could not function properly under the earlier system.

He dismissed the argument that there would be horse trading after the elections. "If the man does not become a horse, there won't be any problem," he said.

Asked if the DMK would include Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in its fold just as it accepted the Dalit Panthers of India, he said the DPA would receive only someone coming to it from the MDMK and not the party as a whole.

The State finances were strong enough to implement schemes announced by the DMK such as free television, two acres of land for poor farmers and farmhands and Rs. 2 a kg rice programme.

"The Chief Minister, the Finance Minister and the Finance Secretary discuss financial situation every week and constantly monitor the revenue and expenditure."

Dismissing suggestions that he would be going abroad to woo investors, the Chief Minister said there was no need to do so as the world had shrunk.

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