PMC comes out with first list of candidates

Pondicherry, Mar 29: The Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC) today announced the first list of candidates for the May three and eight Assembly elections in the union territory.

Addressing a press conference here, PMC President P Kannan said Former Education Minister K Lakshminarayanan will contest from the Cassicade constituency and sitting Congress Member P Rajavelu from Bahour.

Mr V K Ganapathy will contest from Karaikal (South), C Ramadass from Villianur and T Jayamurty from Ariyanakuppam.

The remaining five candidates will be announced in the second list in a couple of days, he said. To a question, Mr Kannan emphatically said he would contest the elections.

The PMC was allotted ten seats under the alliance with the AIADMK. While the AIADMK was contesting 16 seats, two seats each were allotted to the DPI and the MDMK.

To a question, Mr Kannan said the Election Commission (EC) had to decide on the symbol to be allotted to the party. However, he hoped that a common symbol will be provided to the candidates. The party will release its election manifesto soon, he said even as he promised to provide free housing site pattas to all landless people and Rs one lakh each as subsidy to construct houses, if voted to power.

The PMC will generate employment opportunities and provide jobs to youths in all the constituencies. A new scheme for the progress and welfare for women at grassroot level will be evolved, he said.

UNI