As political heat rises in Tamil Nadu ahead of the May 16 Assembly election, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Monday called for a meeting of district secretaries on March 21 to deliberate party's preparedness for the polls.

Poll-related issues including campaign strategies, views of party functionaries over constituencies that may be taken up for allocation to its key partner Congress are likely to be discussed in the meeting.

Also, issues like coordination for effectively bringing up alleged violations of model code of conduct to the attention of election authorities are likely to be covered, the party said in a statement.

The crucial meeting of district secretaries comes against the background of DMDK choosing to stay away from DMK to chart its own course at the hustings.

After the stunner from DMDK, DMK has speeded up its poll related activities and also began formalising support to it from smaller outfits.

For the second day on Monday, DMK treasurer M K Stalin met leaders of such outfits at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam.

On Monday, 27 outfits, including Republican Party of India (A) pledged support to the DMK combine.

On Sunday, 19 other outfits had called on him to express support.