Cong yet to begin seat-sharing talks in Pondy

Pondicherry, Mar 9: Even as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leading the Democratic Progressive Alliance in adjoining Tamil Nadu has almost completed seat sharing exercise, the Congress, leading the DPA in the Union Territory is yet to begin alliance talks or seat sharing exercise which seems to be a herculian task for the party.

Pondicherry PCC president P Shanmugham had recently said talks would commence only after getting directions from the party high command.

During his last visit AICC secretary incharge of Pondicherry affairs, Mr Hariprasad had said not to join Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry should be treated as separate units. The party has two options, either to form alliance with the DPA constituents or to fight it alone. The Congress is yet to take a decision.

The 'go slow' method adopted by the Congress has not only dispirited its workers but also the DMK volunteers here.

On the other hand, the AIADMK has forged an alliance with Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC) floated by former minister P Kannan, in which the latter would contest 10 seats. The Dalit Panthers of India and the MDMK joining the front had given a morale booster to the AIADMK and both the parties have been allocated two seats each. Though, the AIADMK front was still in touch with some minor parties here, the alliance and seat sharing was almost finalised here too.

The Tamil Manila Congress today announced it would forge an alliance if only five seats were given to it or else the party would contest as many seats on its own in Pondicherry.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal(United), Samata Party and the Dravida Peravai is making efforts for the formation of a Third front here. Anticipating that some parties are likely to come out of the DPA here following seat sharing exercise, they are trying to rope in them to form the Third front.

The Bharathiya Janata Party, as in Tamil Nadu, is expected to fight the elections alone.

Polling in the Union Territory of Pondicherry will be held in two phases on May 3 and May 8. While two seats in Mahe region and the lone seat in Yanam would go to polls on May 3, elections for the rest 27 (21 in Pondicherry and 7 in Karaikal) will be held on May 8.

The election department is gearing up. There will be 100 per cent coverage of photo identity cards in the coming elections here.

Nearly 1000 electronic voting machines for the Union Territory, brought from Andhra Pradesh have been serviced and kept ready for the polls.

The election department will be providing tents at all polling booths to protect the voters from the scorching heat.

An additional 15 companies of Central Force is being sought to maintain law and order during the elections in the Union Territory.

UNI