Dmk Not To Pull Out From Uf Govt

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunandihi yesterday said his party would not pull out from the United Front government at the Centre.

Speaking to reporters soon after his unanious election as party president for the record seventh term at the DMKs general council here, Karunanidhi said his statement threatening to pull out from the ministry had brought about the desired results in the functioning of UF and also cohesiveness in the front.

Two UF steering committee meetings were held after his statement, in which the issues raised by him were discussed threadbare and sorted out, he said. On UF decision not to admit Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the front,

Karunandihi said the decision was taken unanimously. However, the front had no harm in accepting the RJD offer of support from outside, he said. He pointed out the very survival of the UF ministry was possible because of the outside support extended by the Congress. When the UF could acceept the Congresss support, why not RJDs, he asked. Karunandihi was unanimously elected at the partys general council meeting here, marking the culination of the organsational elections of the party.

He was first elected as the DMK president on July 27, 1969, and has been continuing in that post for the past 28 years. According to party sources, his was the only nomination received by election officer.

His nomination was proposed by all the district secretaries of the party and seconded by a large number of the partys executive committee members.

Tamil Nadu education minister K Anbazhagan was elected unopposed as the partys general secretary for a consecutive fourth term, while health minister Arcot N Veerasamy was elected as the treasurer of the party, the sources added.

Soon after the election, Karunandihi said he was nominating Nanjil K Manoharan as the partys deputy general secretary.