DMK dumps Congress for local body polls

This has brought to the fore the rift in the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance.
In a statement issued here former chief minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi said: "The party will go it alone in the local body elections. The party will face the elections highlighting the issues faced by the people."

He said the party will form alliances only for the assembly and the Lok Sabha polls and fight the local body elections on its own.

The DPA consisted of DMK, Congress, PMK and VCK.Soon after the DMK led front lost the assembly elections, PMK left the alliance. The VCK is seen as moving towards PMK in search of a third front.

The relationship between Congress and the DMK was an uneasy one as the latter felt the former was not helpful in dealing with the arrest of Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum scam case.

Further during the assembly elections Congress forced DMK to part with 63 seats but was able to win only five, damaging DMK's prospects.