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DPA members cast aside differences

Special Correspondent

Parties issue joint statement

CHENNAI: The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance said on Sunday it would cast aside differences that came to the fore during the local body polls. Leaders of the alliance, in a joint statement, urged cadres to work together for the forthcoming indirect elections to the posts of chairman and panchayat presidents.

The statement specifically acknowledged that there were differences of opinion during the elections because of "lack of time for negotiations ... and this had led to some of the constituents contesting each other."

The statement signed by M. Karunanidhi (DMK), M. Krishnaswami (Congress) G.K.Mani (PMK), N. Varadarajan (CPI-M), D. Pandian (CPI), K.Selvam (Dalit Panthers of India), N. Krishnaswamy and Kader Moideen (Indian Union Muslim League), said after the tumultuous victory secured by the DPA members in the Madurai Central by-election and the local bodies, elections to the post of Mayor and chairpersons/presidents of the local bodies had been announced and the constituents had agreed upon who will contest for these posts in each local body.

The statement urged the members of the victorious parties to work to ensure the victory of alliance candidates in the indirect elections.

The parties should not merely consider the number of seats they had won, but work with unity for all members of the allies.

The joint statement urged its members to consider the victory secured in the local body elections as a vote for the achievements of the DPA Government in the past four months and continue to work with unity.

Conflicting aspirations

Though the local body elections were complete, there were conflicting aspirations in the regions for the top posts — of Mayor, Chairmen and presidents — for which elections are to be held. This despite the fact that local leaders are aware which party has been allotted a particular post.

It was against this backdrop that top State CPI (M) leaders met the DMK leadership on Saturday. The suggestion for a joint statement came up then, according to a leader.

According to DPA sources, the release of the statement was delayed as the PMK was not happy with the numbers it won in the city and wanted additional allocation elsewhere in the northern belt.

PMK gets Tindivanam

When contacted, PMK president Mr. Mani said since the DPA had won with such a huge margin, there was no need to talk about the few places where it suffered defeat. The PMK had signed the statement and was fully satisfied with the allocations. The party has additionally been allotted Tindivanam chairmanship, he added.

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