Thursday, Feb 17, 2005
Thursday, Feb 17, 2005 |
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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Tamil Nadu
By Our Special Correspondent
CHENNAI, FEB. 16. "Coalitions at the Centre and in many States have become the order of the day and Tamil Nadu cannot be an exception for long," the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, said today. As early as in 1952, the Congress formed a coalition government in the State. Though the party's ambition was to contest in all 234 Assembly constituencies for establishing Kamaraj rule in the State, the time was not yet ripe. So the Congress would strive for a share in power in the State. It was a known fact the Dravidian parties could not come to power without the help of the Congress, he told newsmen here. Asked whether he visualised any realignment in the State, Mr.Elangovan said that as on date there was no change in the Democratic Progressive Alliance. It was for the party president, Sonia Gandhi, to take a decision on the alliance for the Assembly election. He found a perceptible change in the people's mood and they had confidence in her.
No truck with AIADMK
Mr. Elangovan ruled out any alliance with the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the Assembly election. "It might be the AIADMK's wishful thinking." Referring to the Chief Minister, Jayalalitha's prediction of a snap poll for the Lok Sabha, Mr. Elangovan said he expected early elections only to the Assembly. Either the House would be dissolved by the Chief Minister or it would get dissolved. He was confident that the United Progressive Alliance Government would complete its full term. Refuting the Chief Minister's charge that the Central Ministers from the State did not involve themselves in tsunami relief operations, Mr. Elangovan said that within two days of the tragedy, the entire Central machinery swung into action. Ms. Gandhi visited the affected districts and consoled the victims personally. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee on its own arranged for relief measures. On the other hand, the Chief Minister did not meet the affected people. The victims were kept "far away" from her when she toured the affected places, he charged. On the Chief Minister's demand for reverting to the ballot paper system in general elections, Mr. Elangovan said perhaps Ms. Jayalalithaa wanted to take the country backwards while it was moving forward. Emphasising that a negotiated settlement alone would solve the Cauvery issue, Mr.Elangovan blamed the Chief Minister for complicating it. If she was ready for a discussion with her Karnataka counterpart, he would arrange for a meeting. The former Chief Ministers, M. Karunanidhi and the late M.G. Ramachandran, saved the delta farmers, getting water from Karnataka in time.
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