DMK seeks Congress support for Kanimozhi in RS polls

After DMDK, former UPA ally DMK today approached Congress seeking support for its candidate Kanimozhi as both the Tamil Nadu parties are set to fight for the sixth seat in the June 27 biennial elections to Rajya Sabha from the state.

Senior DMK leader T R Baalu met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and requested her to support the candidature of Kanimozhi, party supremo M Karunanidhi's daughter.

This is the perhaps the first meeting between a DMK representative and Gandhi after they parted ways few months back on the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Congress is yet to decide on the issue, party sources said. The main opposition party in the state DMDK had on Tuesday approached Congress seeking support for its candidate.

"Five DMDK MLAs met me and gave me a letter, which requested Congress to support their candidate in the RS polls.

I have forwarded the letter to Delhi...The party high command will take a decision on it," Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B S Gnanadesikan had told PTI yesterday.

DMDK, headed by actor-turned-politician Vijayakant, fielded party treasurer A R Elangovan as its candidate on Monday and as such the biennial elections for six Rajya Sabha seats from the state seems headed for a contest.

DMDK has 29 members, including seven dissidents and has sought the support of Congress, which has five members in the Assembly.

The ruling AIADMK is already assured of four seats with its strength of 151 members in the 234-member state assembly.

With Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa agreeing to withdraw the candidature of K Thangamuthu, who was nominated for the fifth seat, in favour of CPI's D Raja, he is expected to gain the required 34 votes for victory.

DMDK and DMK are now set to fight for the sixth seat in the polls with the latter having renominated Kanimozhi.

MMK's two MLAs to support Kanimozhi

Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi, which has two members in Tamil Nadu Assembly, on Wednesday extended its support to DMK candidate Kanimozhi.

"We met DMK chief M Karunanidhi and extended our support in the RS polls," MMK leader M H Jawahirullah said.

MMK has two members -- Jawahirullah (Ramanathapuram) and Aslam Basha (Ambur) in the Assembly.

The last day for withdrawal of nominations for the polls to six Rajya Sabha seats is June 20.

Following is the party position in the assembly: AIADMK 151, DMDK 29, DMK 23, CPM 10, CPI 8, CONG 5, PMK 3, MMK 2, Puthiya Thamilagam 2, All India Forward Bloc 1.

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