The Hindu : A fight between Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa: Baalu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A fight between Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa: Baalu

By Our Special Correspondent

VIRUDHUNAGARTIRUCHI, FEB. 21.FEB. 21. Thousands of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) cadres from all over the State thronged Chattirareddipatti, on the outskirts of Virudhunagar, to take part in the party's south zone conference, which began today.

The workers, riding in hundreds of vehicles, had begun pouring into the hot dustbowl since last evening.

Clad in red and black outfits, the volunteers took positions in different parts of the venue to regulate the movement of the participants. Outside, on the National Highway, passing through Virudhunagar, a handful of policemen tried hard to manage the huge traffic pile-up near the venue.

The 175-acre ``Murasoli Maran Nagar'' provided various amenities, including food and water.

The former Chief Minister and DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, along with senior party colleagues, arrived here by train this morning. The reception committee chairman, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, and hundreds of partymen received him at the railway station.

The former Union Minister of State, A. Raja, hoisted the party flag to mark the beginning of the conference. The film artist and MP, R. Sarat Kumar, who spoke at the inaugural session, recalled the many struggles the party launched to protect the rights of the poor and the downtrodden. The party had great respect and love for the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but had greater respect and love for secularism and democratic values. This was why the DMK parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The former Union Minister, T.R.Baalu, said the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary and Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, was the DMK's first enemy, not the BJP.

This did not mean the BJP was not an enemy, he said.

The coming election was a fight between Jayalalithaa and Mr.Karunanidhi. Ms. Jayalalithaa made several election-eve announcements including extension of free power and withdrawal of the ban on animal sacrifice. But the people would not be fooled by these ``gimmicks'', he said.

Two cadres killed in accident

By Our Staff Reporter

VIRUDHUNAGARTIRUCHI, FEB. 21.FEB. 21. Two DMK cadres were killed and four others injured when a car in which they were going to Virudhunagar, to attend a party conference collided with a lorry at Allur, near here, today.

N.Swaminathan (24) of Tiruvarur and G.Mohan (33) of Thiruthuraiyur died and the injured have been admitted to a private hospital here.

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