The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bypolls: make parties sign pact that ‘votes will not be purchased’

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bypolls: make parties sign pact that ‘votes will not be purchased’

Special Correspondent

PMK leader Ramadoss tells Chief Minister Karunanidhi

S.Ramadoss

TIRUVANNAMALAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss has said that Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi should invite all parties to sign an agreement that they would not indulge in purchase of votes during elections.

Talking to newspersons here on Saturday, Dr. Ramadoss said that such an agreement would be a historic example for the whole country. Though the stand of the PMK was that by-elections are not necessary, the PMK was ready to contest the by-elections to the Tiruchendur and Vandavasi Assembly constituencies if Mr. Karunanidhi was prepared to give a guarantee that there would be no malpractice in these by-polls, and that outsiders and Ministers belonging to other districts would not camp in these constituencies, he said.

The PMK leader urged the Chief Minister to arrange for a caste-wise census in Tamil Nadu in 2011 just as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments had done. He demanded 20 per cent reservation exclusively for Vanniyars in seats in government and aided educational institutions and jobs in government service, since the Vanniyars did not get an adequate share within the existing 20 per cent quota for Most Backward Classes.

Referring to the Supreme Court order constituting a 5-Judge Bench to examine afresh the Mullaiperiyar dam issue at a time when Tamil Nadu was expecting a judgement in the case, Dr. Ramadoss said that the hearing by a 5-Judge Bench would prolong the litigation, and that the Tamil Nadu government should take full responsibility for the delay in disposal of the case.

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