Ally of India's Congress to leave ruling coalition

By Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A major ally of the Congress party said it will leave the ruling coalition due to disagreements over ministerial positions, potentially weakening the new government's ability to pass bills in parliament.

The DMK party from Tamil Nadu state said it would only offer its 18 lawmakers as outside support to the coalition in parliament, a senior party official said on Thursday.

The move will almost certainly not deprive the Congress-led coalition of a majority in parliament.

"Karunanidhi has asked me to inform you that DMK will support from outside," T.R. Baalu, a senior leader said, referring to a directive from the DMK leader.

The DMK's move came as the Congress party was cobbling together a coalition of parties on the eve of the swearing-in of Prime Minister-elect Manmohan Singh on Friday.

The coalition said it had the support of 274 lawmakers before the DMK exit, two more than needed for a parliamentary majority.

With outside support, the coalition said it had 322 members of the lower house of parliament.

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