DMDK Leader throws a challenge to parties

Tiruchirapalli, Mar 10: Actor-Politician and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder-leader Vijayakanth challenged all political parties in Tamil Nadu to contest the elections alone without any alliance parties.

Speaking after the party's women wing rally organised as part of the International Women's Day celebrations here last night, he took strong exception to the remarks of some political parties leaders on the performance of the DMDK in the recently held elections to the local bodies and asked if they could face elections without any alliances like him.

He also criticised the DMK government's decision to hike milk price especially at the time of International Women's Day.

The DMDK leader contributed Rs 50 lakh for efforts to uplift women and asked the women cadre to form self-helf groups. He wanted the Centre to evolve an exclusive scheme for women's uplift in all its five-year plans.

He reiterated that the DMDK was ready to face elections on its own and hoped for definite change in the political scenario. With the support of the people, the DMDK will secure power in the state, he said.

Mr Vijayakanth accused the DMK and the AIADMK for not finding any concrete solutions to many issues faced by the state, including the Cauvery water dispute and Mullaperiyar issue.

The DMK, which took a lion's share of Ministerships in the Union Government, was only focusing on furthering the interests of their family members, he charged.

Briefing the newspersons on the resolutions adopted at the rally, Ms Premalatha Vijayakanth and other leaders said the meeting wanted the Union Government to introduce a Bill on the floor of the Lok Sabha for providing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies immediately, adequate job training for eligible women and 50 per cent exclusive quota in jobs for women.

It requested the government to deposit a sum of Rs 10,000 for each female child to eradicate female infanticide and give equal share in property for women after marriage.

UNI