Monday, February 27 2006 14:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Frustrated by its long wait and non-inclusion in the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance, the Dalit Panthers of India today (Feb 27 2006) forged an alliance with the ruling AIADMK for the coming Tamil Nadu assembly polls and has been allotted nine seats.

The deal was struck when DPI leader Tol Thirumavalavan called on AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa at her residence this morning.

DPI sources told sources that the party would contest on a free symbol to achieve its goal of getting Election Commission recognition as a state party.

The DPI is the first party to forge an alliance with the AIADMK, which did not have an ally for the assembly polls.

The party, which tied up with the DMK for the 2001 assembly polls and contested eight seats then, had expressed a desire to join the DPA. But DMK Chief M Karunanidhi had ruled it out on the plea that there were no seats to offer.

PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss, who along with Thirumavalavan is spearheading the Tamil Protection Movement, made a vain attempt to include DPI in the alliance.