The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : DPI to go it alone in Pondy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 03, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DPI to go it alone in Pondy

Special Correspondent

Thirumavalavan says it will not affect tie-up with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The Dalit Panthers of India, which has forged an electoral tie-up with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, will independently field its candidates in 10 Assembly constituencies in Pondicherry, according to party general secretary Thol.Thirumavalavan.

He told reporters here on Thursday that the AIADMK-DPI alliance in Tamil Nadu would not suffer any setback, as the decision to go it alone in Pondicherry was taken with a view to consolidating the party's vote bank in the Union Territory.

Though a release issued by the AIADMK headquarters on February 27 claimed that both the parties had decided to face the Assembly elections jointly in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Mr. Thirumavalavan said that the DPI would field its candidates in 5 Reserved constituencies and 5 general constituencies in the union territory, as per the local unit's wish. However, in the remaining Assembly segments, the party would support nominees of the AIADMK-led alliance, he added.

He reiterated his appeal to the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to join the AIADMK-led alliance.

A total of 179 aspirants had submitted applications seeking the DPI ticket to contest Assembly elections. The party activists could file the applications till March 10. Aspirants would be interviewed for five days from March 7.

The party would stage a demonstration in Chennai on March 13 demanding the release of persons arrested in connection with the serial blasts in Coimbatore, he said.

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