The Hindu : Seats allotment in People's Alliance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Seats allotment in People's Alliance

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 15. The Dalit Panthers leader, Thol Tirumavalavan, the Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) president, K. Krishnasamy, and the Makkal Tamizh Desam (MTD) founder and former AIADMK Minister, S. Kannappan, will contest the Lok Sabha elections on "arrow symbol" as People's Alliance candidates.

Mr. Tirumavalavan, who unsuccessfully contested the Chidambaram reserved seat in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, will try his luck again in the constituency. Dr. Krishnasamy will once again be in the fray in Tenkasi, where he lost in the last parliamentary election.

Mr. Kannappan will throw his hat into the ring in Ramanathapuram, which has significant presence of his Yadava community.

The People's Alliance, which is contesting in about 30 of the 40 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, today announced the seat-allotment among its constituents including the Janata Dal (United) and the Indian National League (INL).

Addressing a joint press conference here, the Alliance leaders said they had forged the front to represent the underprivleged sections, backward classes and minorities.

Asked whether their "alternative front" would not help the AIADMK-BJP alliance in southern districts, Mr.Tirumavalavan and Dr. Krishnasamy said they had not formed the Alliance for favouring either the ruling party or the main Opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu. "Ours is a winning alliance and we will prove our strength in the elections," Mr. Kannappan said.

Mr. Tirumavalavam, who quit the Mangalore Assembly seat, which he had won in alliance with the DMK, charged the BJP with roping in "criminals" and offering ticket to new entrants, as it had no "proper candidate or cadre".

Dr. Krishnasamy, also a former DMK ally, said there was nothing to choose between the AIADMK-led front and the DMK alliance as both had neglected the underclasses.

The Defence Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader, George Fernandes, will campaign in Tamil Nadu for the People's Alliance in mid-April. The Janata Dal (United) candidates will be in the fray in Dindigul, Palani and Tiruchi. A joint manifesto will be released at a function in Chennai in the first week of April.

As part of the People's Alliance, the PT will contest five seats _ Tenkasi, Tiruneleveli, Sivakasi, Periyakulam and Pollachi (Arunthathiyar Federation). The Dalit Panthers will fight from eight constituencies _ Chidambaram, Madurai, Mayiladuturai, Perambalur, Rasipuram, Dharmapuri, Sriperumbudur and Pondicherry. The MTD candidates will be in the fray in Ramanathapuram,Vandavasi, Arakonam, Tindivanam and Sivaganga.

The 84-year-old INL leader, Sulaiman Sait, expressed inability to contest because of his "old age", Mr.Tirumvalavan said. However, the party would field candidates in Pudukottai, Tirupathur and Cuddalore.

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