The Hindu : All set for DMK conference

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

All set for DMK conference

By S. Vijay Kumar

A replica of the Red Fort, made of plaster of Paris, put up at the venue of the DMK south zone conference at Chattirareddipatti on the outskirts of Virudhunagar. - Photo: S. James

VIRUDHUNAGAR, FEB.19. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will await the poll notification to announce its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.

The party president, M. Karunanidhi, said in Chennai today that there was no hurry as even the elections dates were not announced. Earlier, the DMK wanted to release the list at its south zone conference scheduled for February 21 and 22.

The party completed between February 8 and 13 interviews of prospective candidates for the 15 constituencies it is contesting in the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). The process of selection is nearing completion.

The stage is set for the DMK kick-starting its campaign. At its two-day south zone conference beginning at Chattirareddipatti, near here, on Saturday, the manifesto will be released.

Grand arrangements have been made at `Murasoli Maran Nagar', venue of the conclave, which has come up on over 175 acres on the outskirts of Virudhunagar. ``This is the largest venue of a DMK conference where we plan to show our strength,'' says K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, former Minister and chairman of the reception committee.

Leaders of the Democratic Progressive Alliance including the Pattali Makkal Katchi founder, S. Ramadoss; the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, G. K. Vasan; the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary, Vaiko; the Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary, N. Varadarajan, and the Communist Party of India State secretary, R. Nallakannu, will share the dais with DMK leaders on the final day.While the former Union Minister, A. Raja, will hoist the party flag, another former Union Minister, T.R. Baalu, will preside over the inaugural function. The film artist and MP, R. Sarath Kumar, will inaugurate the conference.

However, uncertainty prevails over the participation of two leaders — the former Speaker, P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan, and the elder son of Mr. Karunanidhi, M.K. Azhagiri. Sources close to Mr. Azhagiri say he will make an appearance on the second day.

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