CHENNAI

12-01-2002

The TMC today said that it was snapping ties with the ruling AIADMK for its "anti-people" policies and that it would not support the party's nominees in the by-election to the Tamil Nadu assembly.

Announcing the party's decision after a meeting of the senior leaders, the TMC president G K Vasan told reporters here that the AIADMK government's "anti-people" policies prompted us to take such a decision.

The TMC would not support the DMK nominees in the by-polls to Andipatti, Saidapet and Vanimabadi, he said, adding a decision on contesting the elections would be taken after consulting friendly parties like the Congress, CPI-M and the CPI.

Frustrated by the AIADMK denial of the Rajya Sabha seat which fell vacant due to its founder G K Moopanar's death, the TMC would form part of the third front proposed by the Congress and left parties for the by-polls.

The TMC was the last party to leave the secular front, isolating AIADMK in the political scene. The DMK has two strong parties - BJP and PMK - in its front, while the AIADMK, which has comfortable majority in the assembly, did not have any major party with its fold now.