Chennai, Jul 2 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palaniswami on Tuesday said the government will continue with the existing 69 per cent reservation (50 per cent for Backward Classes and 19 per cent for Scheduled Castes) in medical college admissions.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has offered a 25 per cent increase in the number of medical seats for states that adopt the 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections (EWS). It had asked the states to reply to the offer before June 28.

Speaking in the Assembly on the issue, Palaniswami said a decision will be taken after discussions with political parties. He asserted that his government will not take a unilateral decision.

Palaniswami said state Health Minister C.Vijayabhaskar's had only informed the Assembly about the Centre communication in the matter and did not mean the state government was supporting or opposing it.

According to Palaniswami, the Centre had said it was giving a certain number of seats to the states under various heads.

As per the Centre's communication, of the total of 1,000 seats 150 would go towards the all-India quota and 264 seats of the 850 remaining seats would be alloted for open quota. The final remaining 586 seats would be set aside for 69 per cent reservation, Palaniswami said.

DMK President M.K.Stalin had asked the government to call an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

Stalin, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said the 10 per cent quota for EWS was a move by the Centre to dilute the existing reservation quota of 69 per cent in the state.