DMK-Congress rift not to impact Opp pact in TN: Karat

The rift between the Congress and DMK is unlikely to affect the Opposition coalition, led by AIADMK, in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as there are no indication that the AIADMK would woo the Congress in the state, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) leader Prakash Karat said on Sunday.

Maintaining that the pre-poll arrangement between the major Opposition players in the state is unlikely to be impacted by the latest developments in the ruling alliance, Karat said there were ?no indications? that Jayalalithaa?s AIADMK would get cozy with the Congress.

?We are in the midst of finalising seat sharing with the AIADMK. We have no such indication. We are in constant touch with the parties with which we are going to contest the elections in Tamil Nadu,? Karat added.

He noted that the rift in the Congress-DMK alliance would benefit the Opposition coalition in next month?s Assembly polls.

On the DMK?s decision to pull out its ministers from the Union Cabinet as a fall out of the party?s strife with the Congress in Tamil Nadu, Karat said, ?Trouble within the UPA (United progressive Alliance) is nothing new. Earlier too, they had differences over ministerial berths. It is up to them. They will sort it out, I think. We are not concerned with what they are doing. You will soon see what happens.?

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday announced of pulling out its ministers from the Congress-led UPA government in the Centre and extend only ?issue-based? support.

The two parties have failed to reach consensus on seta sharing for the Tamil Nadu elections, leading to the DMK decision.

On the CPI(M)?s poll fortunes in the other poll-bound states, particularly Left-ruled Kerala and West Bengal, Karat said the party was in consultations to finalize its candidates and ensure electoral victory.

To a poser, Karat said West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharyya will lead the party campaign in the state, though he eluded a directed reply when asked if a similar responsibility will be entrusted on Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.

He added corruption and price rise would be primary poll issues for the party.