Talking to mediapersons following reports that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had spoken to him over the telephone last night seeking his party's support, Karunanidhi, while confirming the news, asserted that any decision in this regard could be taken only after either the party general council or the executive committee discussed the issue.

However, there was no question of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supporting any front which aligned with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, he said. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Home Minister L K Advani had also spoken to Karunanidhi over the telephone on Friday regarding thelatest political developments.

On whether he would support the Vajpayee Government, he said, ``I have conveyed to them (Vajpayee and Advani) that I cannot take any decision on my own. Depending on the political situation, either the party general council or the executive committee will have to meet in two or three days' time and discuss the issue before any decision is taken,'' he said.

He said he would discuss convening the party general council or executive committee after party general secretary (Education Minister K Anbazhagan) returned to the city in the evening.

On whether the party would take a decision before April 15, when Parliament reconvenes, all he would say was that the party would take a decision at an ``appropriate time''.

Asked if the DMK's stand meant that it would extend support to the BJP-led front if the AIADMK withdrew its support, Karunanidhi however, quipped, ``We have to collectively discuss the issue. We will consider it.''

Indicating that the party was not exactly averseto supporting a Congress (I)-led front, Karunanidhi said, ``If Sonia Gandhi forms an alternative Government we will welcome it. We will oppose only if Sonia forms a Government with the support of the AIADMK.'' He was reacting to a recent statement by TMC president G K Moopanar that he would welcome Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister.

Karunanidhi added that his party had never viewed Sonia as its political foe. ``We have never opposed Sonia. In fact, I have always been loyal to the family of Indira Gandhi,'' he said, pointing out, ``It was Jayalalitha who said Sonia Gandhi was a foreigner and that it would be a tragedy if she became the Prime Minister of the country.''

On a reported remark by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Harkishen Singh Surjit that the DMK would never support the BJP, Karunanidhi refused to comment, saying, ``The media is publishing contradictory reports about statements by various political leaders''. The DMK was very much a part of the Third Front, he said, adding, ``Asfar as we are concerned, the third front comprising the DMK, TMC, CPM, CPI, Janata Dal, the Indian National League and the All India Forward Bloc still continues.''

Karunanidhi also asserted that the relations between the DMK and the TMC were good. ``So are the relations between Moopanar and I,'' he added.

Asked if the Third Front would take a ``collective decision'' in view of the political crisis at the Centre, Karunanidhi said, ``There is nothing to stop us from collectively discussing the issue. We can meet whenever we wish and if necessary, will take a collective decision.''

Asked if he would go to Delhi if the situation warranted, he said such a situation had not arisen.

``If necessary, I will go.'' Asked if he was contacted by any other political leader, Karunanidhi replied that Union Petroleum Minister and Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress leader Vazhapadi Ramamurthy had contacted him over the telephone this morning.

Did he feel that an alternative Government formed in the event of the fall of theBJP-led Government would be stable?

``I cannot predict anything. I do not know astrology. Jayalalithas can appear from anywhere, in any front,'' he remarked, referring to the strained BJP-AIADMK relations.

On Union Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi speaking to AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, he said, ``I do not wish to comment on that. Such a report was published but there has also been a denial.''

His opinion was neither political parties nor the people desired frequent elections.

``The country's welfare would be greatly affected. Moreover, no Government, whether in the State or at the Centre, would be able to fulfill its promises if there were mid-term elections,'' he added.

Day's developments