IUML rejects alliance with TVK, Left parties to decide after Friday talks

Chennai: Even as CPI and CPM have announced that they will hold meetings to decide on extending support to TVK, long-term DMK ally IUML has rejected the request of TVK for an alliance in the state.After TVK fell short of the magical number of 118, the party, led by actor Vijay, sent letters seeking support to DMK allies. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said they will hold meetings to take a decision on whether to extend support to TVK or not. "We will convene the executive committee to discuss providing support to TVK on Friday. The outcome of the meeting will be discussed in the governing council meeting on Saturday and state council meeting on the ensuing days," Veerapandian told TOI.CPM sources too said that they would hold talks. "We will have the state secretariat and executive committee meetings on Friday to take a call," they said. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said that so far, CPM is still a part of the the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.IUML national president K M Khader Mohideen, however, had a firmer stance. He said that the party will continue to support DMK. "Our alliance is not just for the election, but an ideological alliance. We started our alliance at the time of Anna (the late CM C N Annadurai), and continued it during the times of Kalaignar (the late CM M Karunanidhi). It continues with chief minister M K Stalin, and will continue in the future too," Khader Mohideen said.