DMK-Congress alliance to continue, says Pranab

MADURAI - The Congress-DMK alliance, which seemed to be under strain after the resignation of A. Raja over the 2G spectrum row, will continue, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday.

“Our alliance began in 2004 and has completed six-and-a-half years. The alliance working for the socio-economic development of the country will continue,” the Congress leader said here at the wedding of fellow cabinet minister M.K. Alagiri’s son Dayanidhi.

The announcement follows the resignation Sunday night of A. Raja as the communication and IT minister over improper allocation of radio waves (2G spectrum) to mobile telephone companies.

Describing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi as “a great leader”, he said he had great respect for the DMK chief for bringing about social and political changes.

He said the Congress and the DMK understood each other well and their electoral tie up would continue.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not attend the function but sent best wishes to the newly wed.