CHENNAI: "No political party in the State has extended an official invitation to the Puthiya Tamizhagam to forge an electoral pact for the ensuing Assembly polls," party president K. Krishnasamy said here on Thursday.

Addressing reporters, he said though preliminary talks were held with All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders on forming an electoral alliance, there was no further progress. Similarly, Congress leaders at the national level met him recently and appealed to him to join their front. Subsequently, there was no further progress.

"In the absence of any alliance, the PT will contest 150 assembly seats in the State on its own. Party men are receiving applications from all ticket aspirants," Mr. Krishnasamy said, adding that the party's district secretaries would meet in Coimbatore on March 3 to work out strategies for the election.

Claiming that the Puthiya Thamizhagam was the sole party espousing the Dalits' cause, Mr. Krishnasamy said the party did not want to form an alliance with political parties for winning seats. Instead, the party was contesting polls to uphold the dignity and promote social integration of the Dalits.

He criticised Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram for "neglecting the welfare of the Scheduled Castes/Tribes."

It was a disappointing budget for the "oppressed people."

The Current Plan budget allocation for the SC's welfare, along with investment in SC-related corporations, was only 0.71 per cent of the total Plan budgetary outlay when the SC/STs constituted 25 per cent of the population, he said.

Similarly, allocation for the ST's welfare was a "meagre" 0.96 per cent of the total outlay, he said, stressing the need for a separate budget for the Dalits.

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