Chennai: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) today (Dec 29, 2003) decided to pull out its two ministers from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government, following the line adopted by the DMK 10 days ago.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the district secretaries of the party IN Chennai attended among others by the two Union Ministers Gingee N Ramachandran and M Kannappan, who are now expected to resign.

The meeting was held after the two ministers and the MDMK presidium chairman L Ganesan met Vaiko in Vellore prison last week in the wake of DMK's decision.

Ever since the DMK's decision to pull out of the Government and the NDA, MDMK has been under pressure to follow suit, as the DMK had taken up Vaiko's detention under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) as a major issue.

Earlier, the MDMK appeared to have been hesitant on a break with the NDA because of the latest amendment brought to the POTA, which the party felt would help Vaiko's case.

However, the two Ministers had said that they would not hesitate to quit the Government once the party takes a decision.