The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : INTUC disowns poll pact

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 13, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

INTUC disowns poll pact

Special Correspondent

Leaders can contest only on Congress ticket: union president "If any INTUC leader wants to contest in the election, they should do so only on a Congress ticket"

CHENNAI: The alliance between the State branch of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the Assembly election is "against the decision of the working committee and political policy of the INTUC," union president G. Sanjeeva Reddy said.

Letter released

In a letter to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy (a copy of which was released to the press), Mr. Reddy said the INTUC's Working Committee decided to support candidates fielded by the Congress in the Assembly election.

If any INTUC leader wanted to contest, they should do so only on a Congress ticket.

"This decision of the Working Committee applies to INTUC leaders in State branches as well," he said.

`State unit has no right'

He also said the Tamil Nadu unit of the INTUC did not have any right or authority to enter into a political alliance with any party other than the Congress.

"The Tamil Nadu INTUC has acted against the reiteration of the INTUC's national policy and, therefore, is liable for disciplinary action."

Individual capacity

Mr. Reddy also said the actions of P. L. Subbiah and G. Kalan, president and general secretary respectively of the INTUC's state branch, should be regarded as taken in their individual capacity and not that of the party.

"Their alliance in the ensuing Assembly election is illegal and unjustified," the national president declared.

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