NJP joins NDA, accepts five seats

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 14. Hours before the DMK was to release the list of its candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections, the New Justice Party (NJP), headed by Mr. A.C. Shanmugham, in a last- minute deal came round to join the alliance, and was allotted five seats.

Announcing the agreement, DMK treasurer, Mr. Arcot N.Veeraswami, told reporters that the NJP had been given the seats of Arni, Bhavani, Rishivandiyam, Tiruvellore and Sholingur.

The agreement was signed by the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, and Mr.Shanmugham. The NJP would contest on its symbol, Mr.Veeraswami said that party would also support the DMK- led front in Pondicherry.

The NJP, another caste-based outfit, started negotiating for 25 seats and after several rounds of talks, agreed to a minimum of ten seats- nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Pondicherry.

At one stage, the DMK was willing to offer it 8 seats in Tamil Nadu. But dilly-dallying on the part of Mr. Shanmugham and differences within the party came in the way of the NJP clinching a deal then. With the talks making no headway, the DMK virtually gave up on the NJP and Mr.Karunanidhi, before leaving for the launch of the NDA campaign in Tiruchi, even said the party's high level committee would have to take a decision on the NJP's entry into the front.

However, things picked up momentum in the last few days when Mr.Shanmugham and other office-bearers resumed their discussions with the DMK. Even last night the NJP was insistent on at least eight Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, but the DMK was not willing to offer more than four or five seats. Now it is a climbdown for the NJP.

Asked whether the NJP was satisfied, Mr.Shanmugham, after signing the agreement, told reporters that in the interests of ``his party, Tamil Nadu and the country'', he decided to take the offer. The NJP going it alone would not be good for the future of both his party and Tamil Nadu, Mr.Shanmugham added, without elaborating.

Our Erode Staff Reporter reports: Members of the NJP expressed their happiness over the allotment of the Bhavani constituency in the DMK-led alliance.

Even three months prior to the announcement of election, Mr. Shanmugham said Mr. J. Sudhaanandhen, NJP vice- president, would be the party candidate.

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