PONDICHERRY: Generating employment opportunities for youth, striving for special status for Pondicherry and holding elections to local bodies are some of the promises being made by the AIADMK and the PMC candidates during their campaigns. These parties, which have formed an alliance for the Assembly elections are fighting a common opponent — the Congress.

In the alliance in which the MDMK and the DPI are also partners, the AIADMK and the PMC were the most critical of the Rangasamy Government.

Twice in power

The AIADMK had come to power twice - in 1974 for just 21 days since it was a minority government with 11 MLAs and then again in 1977 when it fell after a year in power because of a crisis within the party. During both these times S. Ramasamy from Karaikal was the Chief Minister.

"In Pondicherry, the AIADMK and the PMC have been opposing the Congress and the DMK. We have time and again demonstrated against the anti-people policies of the Congress Government. Pondicherry has not seen any development in rural areas. Karaikal has been ignored and job opportunities are being created only in Thattanchavady," says the AIADMK State secretary A. Anbalagan.

"P. Kannan is our chief ministerial candidate. Ours is a natural alliance. The AIADMK opposes the Congress and so do we. Our party wants to protect the interests of the State. We feel a national party cannot look after the interests of Pondicherry. Also, the people are fed up with the anti-people attitude of the Congress and want a change," says former Minister and the PMC candidate for Cassicadai K. Lakshminarayanan.

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