From correspondents in India, 11:02 PM IST

PMK founder leader S. Ramadoss said here Friday that the party would continue to maintain distance from the ruling DMK and the main opposition AIADMK.

'The PMK general council would meet in February to assess the political situation and take an appropriate decision ahead of the ensuing parliamentary polls. Till then, our current decision to be equidistant from the DMK and the AIADMK during the Tirumangalam by-polls will continue,' Ramadoss said.

All the top leaders of the party, including union ministers Anbumani Ramadoss and R. Velu besides legislators, attended the meeting at his farm in this village, some 100 km south of state capital Chennai.

A top PMK leader said the party would keep off campaigning during the Tirumangalam assembly by-election.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)