Under pressure from its rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [Images] and others, Tamil Nadu's ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has jumped into the 'Eelam' bandwagon demanding a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka [Images].

In a bid to match competing rivals, DMK chief and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi [Images] said on Wednesday night that he would make all efforts for creation of 'Eelam'.

"We have ensured a fair quantity of relief for Sri Lankan Tamils. As a next step, they should get Eelam and I assumed responsibilities of making all efforts to ensure that 'Eelam' is created," he said in an appeal to DMK workers.

Karunanidhi's remarks came after AIADMK supremo Jayalaltihaa made a dramatic turnaround from her party's known stand and pitched for a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka in the election manifesto.

Later, she also said that if the Lok Sabha polls returned a "favourable" government, she would ensure the Indian army [Images] was sent to Sri Lanka to help create 'Eelam'.

AIADMK's allies in Tamil Nadu include pro-LTTE and pro-Eelam parties like Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Pattali Makkal Katchi.