Monday, May 30 2005 10:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Coimbatore: Giving a strong indication of continuation of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu for the Assembly elections due next year, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi yesterday (May 29, 2005) likened the recent by-election results to a 'spark' and cautioned party cadres and partners not to allow it to spread all over and cause destruction.

In his concluding address at the party's two-day zonal conference in Coimbatore, he took the cue from a small 'spark' on the cloth ceiling of the 'pandal' due to a short circuit and said it was noticed by alert volunteers and put off before it could spread and cause destruction.

Likening the spark to the outcome of the by-elections to Kancheepuram and Gummidipoondi, in which the seven-party DPA candidates of DMK were defeated by the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Karunanidhi asked the cadres to be cautious and put off such 'sparks' immediately. Otherwise all would be destroyed.

The conference assumed significance since it was the first after the by-polls and leaders of all alliance partners participated and reaffirmed their support to the continuation of the alliance to unseat Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Karunanidhi, however, said his party had witnessed many reversals, stood its ground and grown through lot of 'ordeals'.