Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350020100.htm

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PMK not to support any party at Thirumangalam

A.V. Ragunathan

Party not part of Democratic Progressive Alliance

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Spelling out stand: PMK founder S. Ramadoss addressing a meeting of the party at Thailapuram on Friday.

VILLUPURAM: The Pattali Makkal Katchi will not support any party in the Thirumangalam by-election scheduled for January 9. However, it has given liberty to the partymen to vote for any candidate whom they consider would deliver the goods. A decision in this regard was taken at a special general body meeting held at Thailapuram near here on Friday.

The meeting was attended by PMK founder S. Ramadoss, president G.K. Mani, Union Ministers Anbumani Ramadoss and R.Velu, MPs, MLAs and party functionaries. When M. Ramadoss, Puducherry MP, read out the resolution, the partymen greeted it with applause. The resolution said the by-election should be conducted in a peaceful manner and the electorate allowed to exercise their franchise in a free and frank manner.

It was quite unfortunate that of late democratic norms were being flouted in by-elections in the State and the Thirumangalam constituency was a case in point.

The PMK was of the consistent view that the by-elections should be dispensed with and seats that fell vacant should be given to the same political party. Such a measure would not only avert clashes among political parties but also save the time of the Election Commission.

The Democratic Progressive Alliance, formed for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and the 2006 Assembly elections, was no more in existence. The Left parties were not part of it and the DMK had unilaterally snapped ties with the PMK. Therefore, the PMK too was not in the DPA but continued to be in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at the Centre. The PMK was stressing the point that a Congress-led alliance must be formed in the State.

Under these circumstances it was difficult to discern what kind of alliance would emerge from the present hazy political scenario in the State.

Dr. Ramadoss said the party firmly believed in democratic practices and, therefore, it would arrive at a consensus in the February general body meeting by eliciting views of each member on alliance for the Lok Sabha elections.