Sonia to decide on alliance for Pondy assembly polls

Pondicherry, Mar 7: The Pondicherry Pradesh Congress Committee will collect from March 10, applications from aspirants to contest the 30 assembly constituencies in the union territory , PCC(I) President P Shanmugham said today (Mar 7, 2006).

Adressing a press conference here he said the applications collected over five days, would be submitted to the party high command which would select the candidates.

Mr Shanmugham reiteratred that there was no confusion in the party and congress President Sonia Gandhi alone would decide whether the party would contest alone or in an alliance in the union territory.

Asked about the desire of the Independent legislator from Yanam constituency Malladi Krisna Rao to join the Congress, he said several people wanted to join the party. A decision whether to admit them or not would be taken in consultation with the party High Command.

On the issue of a Congress legislator, K Lakshminarayanan, accompanying PMC President P Kannan in the talks for an alliance with the AIADMK, Mr Shanmugham said disciplinary action would be taken against him.

He said the Congress was also gearing up to face the local body elections soon after the assembly elections.

Parrying a question whether he would also contest the assembly elections, Mr Shanmugham said Ms Gandhi had entrusted upon him the task of co-ordinating the party workers, guide the party to the elections and ensure the formation of a Congress government here again.

UNI