The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : DPA to hold all-women rally on July 1

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Sunday, Jun 17, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DPA to hold all-women rally on July 1

Special Correspondent

To express approval over decision to field Pratibha Patil as Presidential candidate

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies will hold an all-women rally in Chennai on July 1 to express joy over the decision of the United Progressive Alliance and the Left parties to field a woman candidate for the Presidential election and appeal to all the other parties to make the election of Pratibha Patil an uncontested one.

Announcing this at a press conference, Mr. Karunanidhi said he mooted the idea of holding such rallies in all the State capitals, starting from July 1, to demonstrate to what extent women welcomed the decision. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi suggested that Tamil Nadu should take the lead in organising the all-women rally, he added.

To a query, he said, “We will try to get Ms. Patil for the rally.” However, she was likely to campaign in the State if there was a contest, he added.

Ms. Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made appeals over phone to leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to extend support to Ms. Patel’s candidature. A resolution was adopted at a meeting of the UPA and Left leaders on Thursday, he added.

On reports that Mr. Vajpayee had described the appeal as “too late”, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “We have adopted the decency of one leader seeking the support of another. If dubbing the appeal is genuine or an excuse, neither I nor any leader of our alliance partner will reply to it.”

Replying to a question, Mr. Karunanidhi said he took efforts to bring about a consensus on the selection of the UPA-Left candidate. As the decision to choose Ms. Patil was unanimous, it would not be desirable to disclose as to who proposed which nominee.

The election outcome would herald the passing of the women’s reservation bill in both the Houses of Parliament, he said.

Asked if there was any scope for the DMK getting one more representative in the Union Ministry, he said no such demand was put forward on behalf of the party.

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