Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

DPI pulls out in favour of Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI FEB. 10. The Dalit Panthers of India will support the Congress in the Sattankulam byelection. Its candidate, who filed his nomination, will withdraw his papers, the DPI general secretary, R.Tirumavalavan, told newsmen here today.

The candidate had filed papers before the party took a decision on supporting the Congress. After the TNCC president, S. Balakrishnan, and the working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, requested the DPI support, he asked his candidate to withdraw.

Terming the by-election a fight between "fascist and democratic forces", Mr. Tirumavalavan wanted the DMK to support the Congress. If the DMK failed to back the "secular" forces led by the Congress, then it would create an impression as if it was wavering in its support to the "secular forces". He also wanted the DMK, the PMK and the MDMK to withdraw from the BJP-led NDA if they were serious in their fight against "communal forces".

Welcoming the recent Opposition unity against the arrest of the DMK MLA, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, Mr.Tirumavalavan, however, said it should not be construed as a political front for future elections. "It was a front to protect democracy in the State and was formed to resist the "anti-democratic" activities of the ruling party, including attack on opposition leaders and newsmen. His party would organise a day-long slogan shouting demonstration in Chennai to protest the Speaker's action not reading the Tamil version of the Governor's address to the Assembly.

Mr. Tirumavalavan urged the Centre to deter the Vishwa Hindu Parishad from going ahead with its plan of constructing a Ram temple at Ayodhya. Both parties to the dispute should accept the Supreme Court ruling. In this connection, he welcomed the Kanchi Sankaracharya's move to find a solution.

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

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• All set for straight contest
• Left wants to keep DMK in good humour
• Retail IMFL vendors challenge pro-coops. GO
• Charge sheet filed against Mani in trust case
• Act impartially, Ramadoss tells Speaker
• Selection norms to be relaxed for women SIs?
• CRA meet sans cordiality won't help: Elangovan
• Case against Elangovan for 'derogatory' speech
• Cassettes to be played for Vaiko in court
• Karunanidhi flays 'mute' EC
• DPI pulls out in favour of Congress

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu