Monday, January 30 2006 16:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Ruling out a coalition Government in Tamil Nadu if the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) led by it was voted into power in the state after the Assembly polls, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) today(Jan 30,2006) said no partner in the alliance had favoured the idea.

DMK President M Karunanidhi told reporters after a meeting of the party's district secretaries that no party in the alliance 'neither desired nor spoke' in favour of a coalition government in the state.

Congress Working Committee member Veerappa Moily, also the party's incharge of Tamil Nadu, had called on him recently and did not speak about any coalition, Karunanidhi said, when asked whether the Congress leader broached the subject.

He said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had agreed to address the three day DMK's state-level conference, begining at Tiruchirapalli from March Three. All the leaders of the DPA alliance would be participating in the conference, he said, adding the party had so far not invited any national leaders, barring Gandhi for the conference.

The party's election manifesto for the assembly polls would be released at the conference, he said.

He said the seat-sharing talks between the constituents of the DPA would begin after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule.

In the preliminary talks he had with the leaders of the DPA, it had been agreed to continue the alliance till "Its objective was achieved (ousting AIADMK from power)", Karunanidhi said.

Ruling out any differences between the DMK and MDMK, Karunanidhi said both the parties were committed to continuing the alliance. Karunanidhi hoped that an annoucement on seat sharing arrangements would be made during the conference.

"I hope to announce the number of seats, to be contested by each party in the alliance during the conference," he said.

Asked whether more parties could be included in the DPA, Karunanidhi said "Yes". He said the party had not taken any decision on the induction of Dalit Panthers of India, led by Thirumavalavan in the DPA.

He said there would not be a common election manifesto by the DPA partners for the assembly polls. "It has been the practice of parties to release separate manifestos for the polls," he said.

He said the committee constituted by his party for seat sharing talks with other parties would commence its work soon.