Sonia Gandhi campaigns for Karunanidhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi hold a joint rally with party ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi on Tuesday evening to campaign for the forthcoming assembly elections.

All praises for the DMK, Gandhi said: ?Congress will continue to support Karunanidhi?s DMK as it works for the inclusive development of Tamil Nadu.?

?There is no issue closer to our heart than the rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils. And if Congress-DMK coalition comes to power, we will protect our fishermen, who are being shot by the Sri Lankan Navy,? said Gandhi.

After days of haggling, Congress and DMK on Mar 8 decided to stay together in the Tamil Nadu elections as the two parties arrived at a seat-sharing agreement from the point of a break-up.

Congress is contesting in 63 seats after DMK agreed to the figure following a hard bargaining and a near split in the alliance.

Apparently, it is Congress which prevailed over DMK in conceding the seats they wanted.

The Tamil Nadu assembly has 235 members.

While 61 seats were agreed to be surrendered by the DMK, its partners- PMK and IUML- will part with two seats (one each) for Congress, reports said. DMK to contest 121 seats.

Tamil Nadu is scheduled to vote on April 13.