Date:17/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121760230800.htm

Tamil Nadu

BJP not to contest Tirumangalam by-poll

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Bhartiya Janata Party has decided not to contest the by-election to the Tirumangalam Assembly constituency on January 9.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, L. Ganesan, State party unit president, termed the by-election unnecessary. He expressed surprise over the Election Commission’s decision to hold it under the old system when the delimitation process had been completed.

On the party’s strategy for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Ganesan said it had initiated its work in all the 39 constituencies in the State.

It had once resolved to align with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on the ground that it would be better to win a majority of the seats by being part of a front than capturing a few seats by contesting independently. Also, there was a convergence of views between the BJP and the AIADMK on a number of issues. Now, with the AIADMK announcing its decision to align with the Left, the BJP would focus on winning some seats in the State. Those who subscribed to the party’s position were welcome to join.

The party State executive would meet in Chennai on December 28 and Ravi Shankar Prasad, party in-charge, and S. Thirunavukkarasar, national secretary, were expected to attend it.

Referring to the traffic jam on the Information Technology corridor near the Perungudi toll plaza on Monday, Mr. Ganesan suggested introduction of swipe cards for regular users of the road.

He criticised the DMK for opposing any move to frame a law akin to the now-defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act even after Mumbai terror attacks.