Chennai: DMK cadre on Saturday welcomed the party leadership's decision to pull out of UPA government and shouted slogans supporting the move.
Even as the resolution saying DMK was pulling out of the cabinet was being distributed to members of the media, party workers, who had gathered in front of the meeting venue, shouted slogans welcoming the move.
Some volunteers were seen shouting slogans against the Congress, which according to DMK president M Karunanidhi, had made an "unjustified" demand of 63 seats after settling for 60 for contesting the Tamil Nadu assembly polls.
The cheering crowd welcomed Karunanidhi when he arrived at the party office to preside over the high-level committee meeting. Even as the meeting was on, workers raised slogans saying DMK should not continue their alliance with Congress.
When the news broke that DMK was not willing to concede the Congress demand, DMK supporters were all in smile and many of them said "they were relieved" at the outcome.
The parties had first come together for the 2004 Lok Sabha polls and netted all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The relationship continued for 2006 Assembly polls also, but Congress' hopes for a share in power remained elusive despite its crucial support for DMK government's survival (the DMK could not get a majority on its own), as well as the 2009 Parliamentary elections.
Congress' demand and insistence for power-sharing besides remaining adamant on 63 seats is said to have caused discomfort in the DMK ranks.
DMK is the first ally of Congress-led UPA to pull out of the ruling coalition at the Centre. With 18 MPs in the Lok Sabha, it is the third largest constituent of UPA after Congress and Trinamool Congress.
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