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Karunanidhi modifies stand on joining Centre
Karunanidhi said that DMK's participation in a Cong-led Union Govt would be decided by the party, and the views he earlier expressed were his personal.
Modifying his earlier remarks, DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday said his party's participation in a Congress-led coalition government at the Centre would be discussed and decided by the party and the views that he had expressed earlier were his personal views.
"I had earlier said we will not participate in Union ministry. But this is only my personal view, which I have mentioned in an interview to a Tamil bi-weekly. My view will be placed before the party," he told newsmen in Tiruchirapalli.
He said while the MDMK, a constituent of the Democratic Progressive Alliance, had said it would not participate in the ministry, DMK was yet to decide.
Asked about Prime Minister AB Vajpayee's remarks on Congress tie-up with DMK after accusing it of being involved in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Karunanidhi said at a public meeting on August 22, 1999, Vajpayee, based on Jain Commission's final report, had said DMK was in no way connected in the affair.
Former CBI director Vijay Karan in his book had stated that he had never mentioned "my name while probing the conspiracy into the assassination," he said.
Asked why Vajpayee was then referring to it, the DMK chief said Vajpayee had not accused him in the issue but had only said that Congress had used this excuse to bring down the then IK Gujral government at the centre.
Yesterday, in Mumbai, Vajpayee had said Congress had used DMK as an excuse to break the Gujral government stating that it was "in league with elements" involved in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
On Vajpayee's remarks that there might be changes in alliance after the polls, Karunanidhi said there was no such situation in the DPA.
He said the DPA alliance would continue for the next assembly polls in the state also, but evaded a direct reply to a question whether there was a possibility of a coalition government in the state, saying "poll strategies will be discussed at an appropriate time".
Responding to a question, he said the Election Commission had taken some action like changing a District Collector and senior police official, following the opposition complaints about electoral irregularities in the state. 'But strict neutrality was needed,' he said.
He expressed apprehension that AIADMK, allegedly in connivance with some officials, could indulge in poll violations. DMK and DPA would take this up with EC, he said.
Asked whether he thought the level of campaigning had been of a low standard, he said "you have to ask the Chief Minister."
