Congress will continue to travel in DMK alliance: Thirumavalavan

Trichy: VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday asserted that the Indian National Congress (INC) will continue to travel in the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in the state, despite the recent row between the two parties over a power-share demand. "Congress will stay in the DMK alliance. There needs to be no doubt about it. The party's general secretary K C Venugopal clarified their stand clearly. The DMK alliance is intact," Thirumavalavan said at the Trichy International Airport on Wednesday.Justifying that a demand for a share in power is a right of the Congress party since it travelled with the DMK alliance for a long time, he said that it is up to the DMK and Congress to negotiate and conclude. The Chidambaram MP also recalled that the DMK president Stalin has categorically ruled out the power-sharing model in the state."Just because the Congress party raked up a demand to share power, it does not mean that the DMK alliance will break. Such events are very common in a political alliance during elections," he added.Reacting to a question on whether VCK set any conditions or demands to stay in the DMK alliance, Thirumavalavan told reporters that VCK would not engage in such an act since it maintains due diligence in forging and sustaining the alliance."VCK will not pressurise the alliance but will convey our demands rightfully during talks. VCK has no necessity to abandon the alliance for the sake of additional seats. We will continue in the DMK alliance," Thirumavalavan said.Thirumavalavan also urged DMK to initiate intensive action and solution to curb drug abuse and liquor addiction in the state through the election manifesto. The MP also expressed concern over the delay in constructing service roads for the Trichy-Thanjavur national highway and sought the state and Union govts to coordinate and launch the road work.