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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 8:

        The dissident faction of MDMK led by Gingee S Ramachandran and L Ganesan today resolved to work in tandem with the DMK following its chief M Karunanidhi's open invitation to them.

        This resolution was taken at a zonal meeting of the dissident camp held in Thanjavur. The meeting began at Thanjavur Kandasarasu Kalyana Mandapam and was presided over by Thiruvarur district secretary Thyagapuri. A total of 35 office-bearers from Thanjavur district, 28 from Thiruvarur and 16 from Nagapattinam took part in the meeting.

        The resolutions passed in the meeting attended by Gingee Ramachandran and Ganesan included endorsing their decision to expel Vaiko from the post of the party's general secretary at an earlier meeting in Salem last month for his selfish acts which had ruined the party's reputation and hampered its prospects in the elections.

        The participants resolved to stand united under Ramachandran and Ganesan and take all efforts to strengthen their party.

        It was decided unilaterally to work in coordination with the DMK after accepting their open invitation. Also, it was decided to conduct such meetings in every district in the State.

        It may be noted that Vaiko had already convened the general council of the MDMK on 10 January to take a 'decision' on rebel leaders Ganesan and Ramachandran.

        It may be recalled that on Saturday, DMK chief M Karunanidhi extended an olive branch to the MDMK splinter group and urged them to either join the party or the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in the State.

        The meeting was presided over by the Chief Minister which was attended by senior leaders K Anbazhagan, Duraimurugan and several other Ministers of the State and the Centre.

        'Support and help to the rebels are only to further and strengthen the great legacy of Anna and Periyar,' a resolution passed at the meeting said.