Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) today (Dec 20, 2003) decided to withdraw its nominees from the Vajpayee Government.

However, DMK will continue in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) extending outside support as long as the combine "did not deviate from the national agenda of governance", a resolution passed at a high power meeting of the party, chaired by its president M Karunanidhi, said.

"We are no longer a constituent of the NDA," he said after the meeting of the party's high power committee in Chennai this morning.

Karunanidhi said there was no question of reconsidering the decision taken today.

Union Environment Minister T R Baalu said he and Union Minister of State for Health A Raja would submit their resignations either this evening or tomorrow.

PTI