Monday, February 20 2006 11:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Amidst indications that its ties with DMK are deteriorating, MDMK has said that it would not give up its 'self respect' and knee down before others.

MDMK chief Vaiko, speaking at a function at the suburban Ponnamallee last night said, "I was in the prison under POTA for 19 months. MDMK is a movement full of self respect. I will not give up self-respect at any cost."

"We will fight till the end and will not knee down before anybody," he said in a politically significant remarks.

MDMK has not so far responded to the DMK's invitation for seat sharing talks amidst reports that it might either go with AIADMK or face the Tamil Nadu assembly polls on its own.

Vaiko also said he would respect his partymen's sentiments while taking any decision on 'all affairs'.

His reported remarks to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he might go in for a 'Paswan Formula', continuing ties with UPA at the Centre and go on its own in the state, and his remarks that he had not forgotten his imprisonment under POTA assumed significance that he might opt for contesting the polls on his own, which he did in 1996 and 2001.

His remarks left everyone guessing on which way he would be moving in the coming days.