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CPI open to supporting Cong.

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN DEC. 29. The Communist Party of India will consider extending support to the Congress if it puts up a candidate for the Sattankulam assembly constituency, the State secretary, R. Nallakannu, said today.

Speaking to the media here, Mr. Nallakannu said his party would oppose the AIADMK, the BJP and those which supported the latter.

Mr. Nallakannu said the CPI would not support the DMK either for the Sattankulam byelection as it was "part and parcel" of the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre. "We cannot support the DMK until it remained in the NDA."

The DMK was part of the ruling NDA Government and the AIADMK was trying to get closer to the BJP by supporting its policies. In this circumstance, the CPI would not support either of the Dravidian parties. It would consider extending support to the Congress as it was a "secular party," he said.

"The BJP is more dangerous than the Congress because it is dividing people on religion."

Keeping in mind the inadequate rainfall in several districts during the northeast monsoon, poor storage in the Mettur reservoir and water required for the samba crops till February, the Chief Minister should immediately urge the Prime Minister to convene the Cauvery River Water Authority and try to obtain water for the crop, Mr. Nallakannu said.

The State Government should submit a detailed report to the Centre on the drought situation in Tamil Nadu and obtain necessary funds and rice.

INL to back Cong.

Our Chennai Staff Reporter reports:

The Indian National League will support the Congress in the Sattankulam byelection, according to its State leader, A.M. Abdul Khader.

The INL decided to back the Congress which had "stood by the minorities and voiced their concerns," he said in a statement here.

A resolution passed at the INL general council meeting empowered Mr. Khader to decide whom the League would support for the post of Chennai Mayor.

On January 19, the district INL would hold a rally in Madurai, to call for repeal of the anti-conversion law. The INL national leader, Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait, and the TNCC working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, and leaders of Dalit, Christian and Islamic organisations would attend.

The meeting also called for a stay on privatisation of public transport as ``it would affect the State's revenue.''

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• Move to legalise land ceiling exemptions
• Dry summer ahead as storage in reservoirs plummets
• Paddy fields develop cracks, samba prospects bleak
• Committee exploring prospects of e-governance
• CPI open to supporting Cong.
• Cong., Left should unite against AIADMK: Ramadoss
• Kalaivanan clarifies
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