The Hindu : Front Page : DPA completes identification of constituencies

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Friday, Mar 24, 2006

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DPA completes identification of constituencies

Special Correspondent

Pattali Makkal Katchi signs agreement with the DMK

PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN

SEAL OF APPROVAL: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss and DMK president M. Karunanidhi signing the seat sharing agreement at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Democratic Progressive Alliance completed the process of constituency identification on Thursday, with the Pattali Makkal Katchi signing an agreement with the DMK.

Of the total of 234 seats, the DMK will contest 129 seats, leaving the rest to the allies. Under the seat-sharing arrangement, the Congress has been given 48 seats, the PMK 31, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) 13, the CPI 10 and the Indian Union Muslim League 3.

In the constituencies to be contested by the DMK, Chennai, a traditional stronghold of the party, accounts for 11 seats. The three remaining seats have gone to the Congress (R.K. Nagar), the PMK (Saidapet), and the CPI (M) (Perambur).

DMK seats

The DMK will contest eight seats in the Coimbatore district and seven each in Erode, Villupuram and Tiruchi. The party has decided to field its nominee in Andipatti, now represented by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Wrapping up the process, DMK president M. Karunanidhi and PMK founder S. Ramadoss expressed their satisfaction.

Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters that interview of prospective candidates of his party would be completed on Friday or Saturday. Subsequently, the list of candidates would be released.

He would announce his tour programme in the first week of April. Probably, he would begin the tour from the second week. Before he begins his tour, the election manifesto of the party would be released.

Parties "satisfied"

Though the negotiations during the allocation of constituencies were intense and prolonged, most of the constituents claimed to be "satisfied" with the outcome. "There has to be some compromise, and we think all of us have accepted it in the spirit of give and take," a senior Congress leader said. Congress factions were behind the protests all over the State in which effigies of CWC member in-charge of the Tamil Nadu unit, Veerappa Moily, were burnt.

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