Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051204170300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

DPA celebrates victory

Staff Reporter

ERODE: On the announcement of results, volunteers of the DMK, Congress, PMK and Tamilaga Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam took out a two-wheeler rally in Erode, Bhavani, Sathyamangalam and Bhavanisagar on Thursday. Sweets were distributed to the public, and in Bhavani a few even received mangoes.

AIADMK functionaries in Erode claimed they had lost their votes to the DMDK, and that DMK's assurance of waiving farm loans and distributing colour TV to the poor had caught the fancy of the voting populace.

In Bhavani, Bhavanisagar and Modakurichi, AIADMK volunteers said that party members were complacent after the Chief Minister's visit.

No proper coordination

In a few places there was no proper coordination between the MDMK and AIADMK, the volunteers added.

In some places partymen burst firecrackers. After obtaining the certificate from the Returning Officer, the Erode DMK candidate N.K.K.P. Raja said that he would fulfill his promises.

The uzhavar shandy was started by the DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, but during the AIADMK regime it was not functioning properly.

He assured that all steps would be taken to revive the Kalaignar uzhavar shandy.

He also said that during the AIADMK rule, the word "Kalaingar" has been erased from all the Uzhavar shandies and the DMK volunteers would write it immediately in all the uzhavar shandies.