The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Clarion call for poll preparedness

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Clarion call for poll preparedness

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, AUG. 23. "Prepare for elections." This is the clear message repeatedly voiced by leaders at the just-concluded two-day Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam conference at Salem.

While many leaders wanted the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government dismissed, the leadership said that since the Assembly elections were not far off, there was no need to put pressure on the Centre for imposing President's rule. A new Assembly has to be constituted by May 2006.

The DMK does not want to press for invoking Article 356 — though most of the senior leaders were of the view that Tamil Nadu was a fit case for application of its provisions. Asking for dismissal of the Government ran contrary to the DMK's stated position on State autonomy.

In fact, some the resolutions sought more power to the States — notably the one demanding an amendment to the Constitution to enable them to fix their own reservation limits.

In his concluding remarks, the president, M. Karunanidhi, asked the leaders and cadres to keep the party machinery in shape. ``As Dayanidhi (Union Minister for Telecommunications) said here, prepare the voter lists. Begin election work in your areas.'' The party being prepared to face the Assembly elections meant it was ready to ``send home'' the AIADMK regime early, he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi hastened to add that elections might be held either in the near future (within six months) or later. Mr. Dayanidhi Maran predicted that the elections were likely towards the end of next year.

Differences sunk

The conference brought under one roof all known faces and senior leaders — some of whom had not been very active in the recent past. There was a message here again: the differences lie buried in the resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections. The party now looked ahead in unison for elections, even if a little too eagerly. According to one leader, barring M.K. Azhagiri (Mr. Karunanidhi's elder son) all leaders attended the conference.

Eight of the 54 resolutions put forth the demands of the working class. These include a demand for 20 per cent bonus to workers, the assertion that the right to strike work should not be taken away from labourers, a call for more social sector benefits to those in the unorganised sector, a protest against the reduction of interest rate on Employees Provident Fund, the insistence that public sector units be not privatised and that sick units be revived, a firm plea for withdrawal of the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act and a request that the Government come forward for talks with transport, electricity and sugar cooperative employees.

At the concluding session, the Union Surface Transport Minister, T.R. Baalu, made a dramatic announcement: If the DMK was not able to get the Sethusamudhiram project on steam, all Union Ministers belonging to the party would resign. When completed, the Rs. 2000-crore project would cut the distance by sea between India's east and west coasts significantly.

It is expected to fuel economic activity in the State's southeastern region.

With Mr.Baalu in charge of the Shipping Ministry, the party could take credit for taking the first steps towards realising a long-pending dream of the people.

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

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Lawyers court arrest peacefully

Clarion call for poll preparedness

Police officials exploited me, Jayalakshmi tells court

Ramadoss, party women detained

Mohammed Ali denied bail

MDMK student wing leader suspended from post

Samajwadi Party donates Rs. 41 lakhs for fire victims

Bomb hoax triggers panic

Passport applications cleared

Briefly