PMK set to come back to DMK fold in Tamil Nadu

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which broke away from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance prior to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, is all set to come back to the DMK fold for the Assembly elections.

Confirming this, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi said the PMK joining the DMK-led alliance had almost been finalised.

Talking to newspersons after a meeting of party MLAs here, he said the PMK had given some signals and the DMK had also responded to the signals.

Both the parties would soon hold talks, he said, adding, "We have not yet fixed the date for talks."


The PMK joining the DMK-led alliance became evident when the party legislators did not join the opposition chorus to pin down the government.

During the previous session, the PMK members had opposed the government, but changed their stand now, giving clear indications that the party had come close to the DMK.
Party founder leader S Ramadoss, who had criticised the opposition for demanding Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam, welcomed the Governor's address.
The PMK, which fought the 2006 assembly elections in alliance with the DMK, broke away from the party after the DMK took exception to its senior leader Kaduvatti Guru who spoke against the DMK high command in a party meeting.

The relations became strained after the DMK government had detained Mr Guru under the National Security Act (NSA) (which was subsequently revoked).
Prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the PMK chose to renew its ties with the AIADMK and contested seven seats, only to draw a blank.
After AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa refused to instruct party leader and former Minister C V Shanmugam to drop a criminal case against Dr Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK distanced itself from the AIADMK.