The Hindu : Front Page : Dalit Panthers of India joins DMK-led alliance

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Thursday, Sep 28, 2006
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Dalit Panthers of India joins DMK-led alliance

Special Correspondent

Two municipal chairman seats may be given out of DMK's share

HAPPY UNION: Dalit Panthers of India general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan (left) greeting Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi after his party joined hands with DMK for local body polls, in Chennai on Wednesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Dalit Panthers of India general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan announced on Wednesdy that the party would fight the local body elections as part of the the Democratic Progressive Alliance.

He made the announcement after calling on Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Talking to presspersons after the DPI joined hands with the DMK, Mr. Karunanidhi said the DPI would be given the chance of contesting "the posts of at least two Municipal chairmen." A decision on the number of wards to be given to the DPI would be decided in "the next two days," he said.

The seats would be given out of the DMK's share, Mr. Karunanidhi said. A decision on what symbol the DPI candidates would contest was yet to be taken, he said.

Asked why the DPI chose to join the DMK alliance, Mr. Karunanidhi said: "They have come to the place they should. They should have come earlier." The DMK president dismissed problems in seat sharing within the alliance saying: "It's all been solved."

Elaborating on the reasons for leaving the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front, Mr. Thriumavalavan said that in electoral politics time decided which side the party was part of.

"Deeply insulted"

The DPI was "deeply insulted" by the AIADMK when it came to sharing of seats for the local body elections. When the district-level leaders of the AIADMK-led alliance met, the DPI was not only given very few seats, it was allotted wards where the chances of victory were very dim.

A few district office-bearers were incensed, but he tried to sort out the issue with the AIADMK leadership.

Even as he tried to contact the party leadership, the AIADMK began filing nominations in seats allotted to the DPI, he said. Mr. Thirumavalavan said he was unable to establish contact with the AIADMK leadership, despite being a leader of the front. It was at this juncture the DMK welcomed the party.

It assured him that the DPI would get "a honourable number" of seats.

Mr.Thirumavalavan said that his party would work hard for the victory of the DMK candidate in Madurai Central and also for all DPA candidates in the State.

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