<p>Happy with the outcome of the protracted negotiations that ended the two-week long standoff with the Congress, which resulted in the latter being allotted 63 of the 234 seats (against 48 seats in the 2006 polls), Karunanidhi told a party meeting at the DMK headquarters Tuesday evening that the DMK would contest just 121 seats. <br /><br />“It (the seat-sharing pact) only shows our abiding sense of coalition friendship,” <br /><br />Karunanidhi said, expressing the hope that the Congress would accept the offer “with good intent and religious faith”. <br /><br />“In the Tamil Puranas, the number 63 is scared as it corresponds to the 63 ‘nayanmaars’ (saints) who propagated Shaivism in this part of the country,” Karunanidhi emphasised to drive home that all is well that ends well. <br /><br />The DMK’s final offer was made possible after the PMK, led by S Ramadoss and the Indian Union Muslim League, headed by Prof K M Khader Mohideen, each agreed to part with one seat each from their respective allocated seats.<br /><br />The impasse ended after DMK ministers met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The number of seats allocated to other parties are: PMK (30), Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (10), Kongunaadu Munnetra Kazhagam (7), IUML (2) and Muvender Munnetra Kazhagam one seat to make a total of 234 seats. <br /><br />Karunanidhi avoided any reference to contentious issues like the Congress’ demand on power-sharing in Tamil Nadu, or the DMK’s anxiety that the CBI go slow on the 2G scam case.</p>
<p>Happy with the outcome of the protracted negotiations that ended the two-week long standoff with the Congress, which resulted in the latter being allotted 63 of the 234 seats (against 48 seats in the 2006 polls), Karunanidhi told a party meeting at the DMK headquarters Tuesday evening that the DMK would contest just 121 seats. <br /><br />“It (the seat-sharing pact) only shows our abiding sense of coalition friendship,” <br /><br />Karunanidhi said, expressing the hope that the Congress would accept the offer “with good intent and religious faith”. <br /><br />“In the Tamil Puranas, the number 63 is scared as it corresponds to the 63 ‘nayanmaars’ (saints) who propagated Shaivism in this part of the country,” Karunanidhi emphasised to drive home that all is well that ends well. <br /><br />The DMK’s final offer was made possible after the PMK, led by S Ramadoss and the Indian Union Muslim League, headed by Prof K M Khader Mohideen, each agreed to part with one seat each from their respective allocated seats.<br /><br />The impasse ended after DMK ministers met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The number of seats allocated to other parties are: PMK (30), Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (10), Kongunaadu Munnetra Kazhagam (7), IUML (2) and Muvender Munnetra Kazhagam one seat to make a total of 234 seats. <br /><br />Karunanidhi avoided any reference to contentious issues like the Congress’ demand on power-sharing in Tamil Nadu, or the DMK’s anxiety that the CBI go slow on the 2G scam case.</p>
