NJP to support DPA in civic polls

Pondicherry, June 20 (UNI) The New Justice Party (NJP) today extended its support to the Congress-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) for the civic polls in the union territory.

Addressing a press conference here, NJP President S Ponnurangam said the party decided to support the DPA despite the fact they were denied a seat in the Assembly elections by the Alliance, as only the victory of the ruling party could ensure the smooth functioning of the local body system.

Mr Ponnurangam also urged the administration to ensure local students got 50 per cent reservation in private professional colleges here and include the Vellalar and Shengunthar Communities besides some others in the Most Backward Class (MBC) list.

He said the NJP would start campaigning for the DPA candidates from tomorrow.

Answering a question, Mr Ponnurangam said the NJP was against the demand of the Karaikal Struggle Group for conferring the status of union territory on Karaikal.

Any move in this direction would pave way for the merger of the regions with adjoining states, he warned.

UNI PAB GM YA DS1325