Big blow to Congress: PMK-UPA alliance breaks

ON HIS WAY OUT? The resignation of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss seems imminent.

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New Delhi: In a big blow to the Congress, another alliance broke within the UPA. This time it's the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) that has fallen out with the Congress.

The resignation of Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss seems imminent following a decision by his father and PMK party founder S Ramadoss to align with the AIADMK, highly placed PMK sources said on Tuesday.

"While the timing of the resignation is being worked out, the decision to align with the AIADMK has been finalised," a news agency quoted a senior aide of the PMK as saying.

Ramadoss is on his way to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress high command. With him Minister of State for Railways R Velu is also likely to step down.

Seat-sharing talks between the PMK and Congress in Tamil Nadu broke down on Monday.

The PMK is eyeing seven seats, a demand the Congress would not concede.

PMK sources said that the party has struck a deal with AIADMK chief Jayalalitha, but an official announcement will only be made after the general body meet on Thursday.

This leaves the Congress with diminishing numbers in the state. Already, actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth has said his party, the DMDK, will fight alone, in this election.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on May 13 to elect 39 MPs.