New Delhi

Jan. 30 2002

The MGR-ADMK, a party floated by former AIADMK Minister S Thirunavukkarassu, MP, will formally merge with the BJP ``unconditionally and totally'' on February 1.

``The decision to merge was taken at the party's general council meeting in Chennai yesterday and we would do so in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Home Minister L K Advani, BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy and other senior party leaders,'' Thirunavukkarassu told reporters here today.

Asked why he was merging with the BJP, he said ``being one of the smaller parties in Tamil Nadu, we cannot do anything for the people and the State''.

To a question whether he was doing so for sake of a ministerial berth, he said ``I am joining the party so that we can do something for the people of the State''.