Congress leaders insist on power-sharing in State

Want to make this as precondition for an alliance with DMK

Congress leaders from across the State insisted on making share in power a precondition for an alliance with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

On Monday, the panel, constituted to hold talks with the DMK, asked the district presidents and office bearers of various wings of the party as to how many seats the party could contest and should power sharing be part of the alliance deal.

As almost all MLAs told the panel on Sunday that power sharing should be made a precondition for the alliance as they would not be able to face the voters again, the panel members TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu, Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan, AICC spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan and AICC national secretary and MLA K. Jayakumar patiently listened to party leaders till 8 pm. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram could not participate in the deliberations on Monday.

Right signals

The panel also elicited views of the district presidents on the strength of the alliance and the opposition. “Making power sharing a precondition will send the right signals and will have a positive effect on the electorate as it opens the possibility of a new style of governance,” said a district president.

A few of the leaders also told the panel that an alliance between the All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) would seriously jeopardise the chances of the DMK-Congress combine in the coming Assembly elections.

There were also apprehensions from the partymen that the two-day meeting should not be a formality.

“We can't divulge any details at present. Now, we know the thinking of partymen. We will convey their views to the High Command,” said Mr. Thangkabalu. The panel will discuss again before holding a meeting with the Congress high command.