The Hindu : `DMK, allies blocked Tamil Nadu development'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 21, 2004

Other States

Other States - Pondicherry

`DMK, allies blocked Tamil Nadu development'

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, MARCH 20. The Tamil Nadu Law Minister, D. Jayakumar, who is in charge of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) poll-related programmes in the Union Territory, today called upon the electorate here to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee, Lalitha Kumaramangalam, in the Lok Sabha elections.

Introducing the candidate and addressing a joint meeting of workers of the AIADMK and the BJP here, Mr. Jayakumar said the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder, S. Ramadoss, would start showing concern for fishermen only during elections, but would forget them the moment the poll was over. He said fishermen could no longer be taken for granted, as they were fully aware of the ``capability'' of the PMK leader.

Charging the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the PMK and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) with having blocked the development of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry while sharing power with the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre. Mr. Jayakumar said that till the three parties were with the Centre, its representatives had taken care that no scheme sponsored or proposed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minster for development got the Centre's nod. After their exit from the Government, the schemes, which were important for the State's development, including the one on power generation, were cleared by the Prime Minister.

Stressing that there should be well-knit organisational work during the poll, he said formation of booth-wise and constituency-wise committees was essential to carry out poll propaganda.

The AIADMK State committee secretary and MLA, A. Anbalagan, who presided, said the people of Pondicherry would never yield space for ``casteist'' parties such as the PMK.

The workers should bear in mind that for all practical purposes it was the AIADMK that was in the fray here although the BJP had been earmarked the seat.

The poll should put an end to all caste-based parties. He said the Congress was cutting a sorry figure by hobnobbing with the DMK, the PMK and the MDMK.

Ms. Lalitha Kumaramangalam said she had full faith in the people of Pondicherry and thanked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for earmarking the Pondicherry seat to the BJP.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

`DMK, allies blocked Tamil Nadu development'

Teachers oppose redesignation move

Karaikal Youth Congress committee dissolved

CPI (ML-L) forms campaign panel