The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : AIADMK, CPI(M) reach accord on sharing seats for elections

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 07, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

AIADMK, CPI(M) reach accord on sharing seats for elections

B. Kolappan

CPI(M) allocated Coimbatore seat
AIADMK still in talks with MDMK

CHENNAI: After days of hectic parleys, the State unit of the CPI(M) on Monday reached an agreement on seats sharing with the AIADMK.

Besides the two sitting constituencies, Kanyakumari (earlier Nagercoil) and Madurai, the CPI(M) will contest from the Coimbatore constituency.

“We bargained hard for the Tirupur constituency. But we are satisfied with the allocation, because all the three constituencies are steeped in democratic struggles and trade union movements,” CPI(M) State secretary N.Varadarajan told The Hindu.

The talks between the two parties were prolonged because the CPI(M) insisted on the Tirupur constituency. It, however, agreed to settle for Coimbatore. AIADMK representatives visited the CPI(M) office and obtained a signature from Mr. Varadarajan.

“The AIADMK is very strong in this region and there are Assembly constituencies in the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, presently held by the party. Pongalur N. Palanisamy was denied a berth in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet in the beginning because the DMK fared very badly in the region in the 2006 Assembly elections. The two Left parties also enjoy popular support. So it is a strong constituency for us,” said Mr Varadarajan.

The CPI(M) leader rejected the view that it would be difficult for them to face a high profile candidate such as M.K.Azhagiri in the Madurai constituency. “We have committed cadres who are ready to face any challenge. We will not be cowed down by money power and muscle power,” he said.

Asked when the candidates for the three constituencies would be announced, he said the State committee would send the names to the Polit Bureau on Tuesday.

Mr. Varadarajan said CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and other national leaders would participate in the public meeting along with AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on April 16 in Chennai.

He said the CPI(M) State unit would organise meetings of the party workers in the three constituencies between April 8 and 15 to discuss election works.

“After that we will have meetings with the workers of the alliance parties to ensure effective coordination,” he added.

Mr. Varadarajan said the party would involve various cultural troupes in a big way in the election campaign.

The AIADMK is continuing talks with the MDMK, the only ally with which it is yet to reach an understanding on sharing of seats.

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

Tamil Nadu