'Alliance talks after directions from High Command'

Pondicherry, Mar 6: The Congress party in Pondicherry is yet to begin alliance discussions with any party, Mr P Shan Mughan, PCC (I) President P Shanmugham said here today (Mar 6, 2006).

In an informal chat with newspersons here Mr Shanmugham said the alliance talks would commence only after the directions from the party High Command.

Any decision on the modality of contesting the polls would be taken by AICC President Mrs Sonia Gandhi, he added.

He refuted reports in a section of the press that the Congress would fight it alone in the coming elections and would contest all the 30 assembly segements.

He said the party has completed the process of eliciting the views of its caders in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions.

Asked about the insistance of the caders to fight the elections alone, Mr Shanmugham said it was the desire of the caders.

Mr Shanmugham refused to comment on the filing of cases against the DMK convenor and former Chief Minister R V Janakiraman, on a complaint from the election department.

UNI