AIADMK strong in Pondy: Anbazhagan

Pondicherry, June 2 (UNI) The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) haS registered a considerable growth in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, Party state secretary A Anbazhagan said here today.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Anbazhagan said the party had obtained 16.5 per cent votes in the May Assembly elections. The DMK, which secured 9.38 per cent votes, was pushed to the third position, he added.

Mr Anbazhagan said the party high command had constituted a committee to finalise the AIADMK's alliance for the local body elections.

He called upon the like-minded political parties to ally with the AIADMK to fight the local body elections.

Mr Anbazhagan criticised the administration for conducting the local body elections without earmarking reservation for the BCs, and women.

''Holding of local body elections would help the legislators to concentrate on some constructive works,'' he added.

He said the Karaikal people had taught the Congress a fitting lesson in the May Assembly elections because of the authoritarian attitude of Chief Minister N Rangasamy.

''The Congress will meet the same fate in Pondicherry if he continued the same attitude,'' he added.

Alleging the AIADMK members were denied the right to express their views in the Assembly, Mr Anbazhagan said the Speaker allowed the DMK members to refer to the Assembly of the adjoining states.

He said all concessions and reliefs for the people were halted citing the model code of conduct of the Panchayat elections.

UNI PAB AJ AK DB1244