Friday, July 8 2005 16:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu "is totally intact" and there was no question of the PMK leaving it, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, asserted today (July 8, 2005).

Replying to questions on reports that the PMK would break away from the DPA, he told reporters here that, his party would remain in the alliance. "We have repeatedly stated this."

Citing "exigencies" as the reason for his not attending the recent foundation stone laying for the Sethusamudram Ship Canal project in Madurai, he said his party was represented by Union Health Minister and his son Anbumani Ramadoss.

His absence at the function attended by the Prime Minister and leaders of all other constituents of DPA had fuelled speculations, that all was not well within the DPA and the PMK might desert it.

Ramadoss also made it clear that, if the DPA won the 2006 assembly polls, PMK would not seek share in power.

Asserting that the DPA was a more powerful coalition now, he said the AIADMK came to power in 2001 due to electoral alliance with Congress. "But now the DPA is a more powerful coalition and in the 2006 assembly polls, the AIADMK rule will certainly end," he claimed.

Besides DMK, Congress and the PMK, the DPA comprises CPI, CPI-M and the MDMK. Ramadoss said in the past, when late C Rajagopalachari went for changes in coalition in 1967 and 1971, it was described as "a decision based on philosophy. When Chief Minister Jayalalithaa changed the alliance in 1998 and 1999, it was regarded as a "Raja tantram" (political diplomacy). "But why is that in the case of PMK, we are described as opportunists?", he asked.