Paataali makkal Katchi (PMK), an ally of ruling Congress government has announced that it is forging a new regional alliance in a blow to the ruling Congress party's attempts to secure a national coalition weeks before the general election.
PMK said it would join Congress opponent the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the Lok Sabha election, party officials said.
PMK's move is the latest in a series of blows for Congress. While it is still the election front-runner, Congress has struggled to cement alliances in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which together account for 120 seats in parliament.
The main national vote battle is between a coalition led by Congress -- the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) -- and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), an alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Many national polls show that the Congress-led alliance could beat the main opposition grouping led by the BJP, but it could still fall short of a majority in parliament.
A "Third Front" of communist and regional parties is challenging the two main alliances. PM|k’s move in Tamil Nadu could give impetus to the Third Front if the PMK and AIADMK join it in an alliance.
Tamil Nadu, which accounts for 39 of the parliament's 543 seats, was a swing state in the last general election in 2004 and helped the Congress-led coalition gain a majority in parliament.
Eelam only solution
Speaking to reporters after announcing its split with Congress, PMK founder and leader Dr. Ramadoss said Congress has been ignoring the sentiments of seven crore Tamils on the Eelam Tamils issue and his party would press the next Central government to take concrete steps on Sri Lanka which includes stopping all aid, economic and military.
He also said that the party stands by the belief that a separate nation for Eelam Tamils was the only solution to their problem.
The PMK leader further added that the AIADMK has already made its stand on supporting Lankan Tamils cause clear. The presence of MDMK and the Communist party strengthens the front on working for the Lankan Tamils cause, he added.
