The Hindu : AIADMK calls for Pondy civic polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

AIADMK calls for Pondy civic polls

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 12. The AIADMK today called upon the Pondicherry Administration to notify civic polls in the Union Territory.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the office-bearers of the reconstituted State committee of the AIADMK held under the chairmanship of S.Sokkalingam in party office here. This was the first meeting of the committee after A. Anbalagan MLA was appointed secretary, replacing K.Natarajan, by the high command.

The meeting noted with concern the undue delay on the part of the government to hold civic polls due for more than 30 years. Revival of elected civic bodies alone would ensure speedy implementation of schemes to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor and the have-nots.

The meeting also thanked the general secretary of the party, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, for posting new office-bearers for the party in Pondicherry.

The meeting through a resolution lauded the efforts of Ms. Jayalalithaa to ensure a peaceful ambience by taking action against those creating commotion and chaos on certain issues.

Another resolution wanted the government to implement the recommendation of the Special Industrial Tribunal on upward revision of wages of workers of the government-owned AFT mill here.

There should be reservation in education and job opportunities in Pondicherry for the Most Backward Classes. The recommendations of the Justice Thangamani Commission relating to reservation for the underprivileged should be implemented. A one per cent reservation for the STs was also sought by the meeting.

There should be no reduction in the number of Assembly constituencies in Karaikal and Mahe as had been planned by the Delimitation Commission now. The exclusion of a representative of the AIADMK from the Pondicherry government-constituted committee to meet the Commission was condemned at the meeting. The AIADMK had held reins of administration twice in the past and exclusion of the party's representative in the committee was a butchery of democracy, it said.

The party appealed to the Commission to ensure that the status quo continued in the region-wise number of Assembly constituencies in the Union Territory.

Free power supply and free availability of inputs for farmers in the context of the current drought situation in Karaikal were also stressed at the meeting.

Those who addressed the meeting included another party legislator and former Welfare Minister, A. Kasilingam.

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