The Hindu : Cadre anger will be a passing phase, says Ganesan

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

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Cadre anger will be a passing phase, says Ganesan

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 19. The Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary, L. Ganesan, today said he could ``justify the anger felt by the cadres'' over non-allotment of some Lok Sabha constituencies by the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in yesterday's seat-sharing agreement. But, he was confident, it was a passing phase and they would overcome this soon.

The AIADMK has allotted seven seats to the BJP. Last time it contested six. Two of the constituencies the BJP was in the fray in 1999 — Tenkasi and Tiruchi — have not been allotted now. The Pudukottai seat has also not been given to the BJP. The Pudukottai MP, S. Thirunavukkarasar, joined the BJP after his 1999 election victory.

In Mr. Ganesan's view, there is nothing wrong in the cadres feeling upset when a constituency in which they work is not given to their party. ``They have nurtured that constituency for a very long time. When they learn that that seat has been given to someone else, it is natural that they give vent to their feelings.'' But as the BJP was a disciplined party, the cadres would abide by the directives and advice of its leaders.

The cadres now needed to channel their energies to winning in all constituencies allotted to the party. ``That is the real challenge. I am confident that the cadres will put the present behind in a day or two and work towards the victory of all our candidates,'' Mr. Ganesan told reporters here.

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