PMK cadres protest "allocation" of Salem to DMDK

(TN), Mar 16: Enraged by the reported allocation of Salem seat to

in the

alliance in the April 24 Lok Sabha polls, cadres of

on Sunday staged a protest at the Collectorate and a party worker attempted self-immolation.

The PMK had announced last year itself that R Arul will be its candidate in Salem.

However, the party later aligned with the BJP front in which DMDK, MDMK, IJK and Kongu Nadu Makkal Desiya Katchi were also constituents.

Though BJP has not officially declared the constituencies that it would contest and those allocated to allies, there were reports that Salem has been given to DMDK and that its youth wing secretary LK Sudheesh would be fielded.

Irked by this, supporters of Arul gathered in front of the Collectorate and staged a demonstration.

Karthik, a PMK worker, doused himself in petrol and attempted to set fire but police overpowered him.

"We will not work for any other party here. Our (PMK) party candidate is Arul and we have already started campaigning for him," Vijayakumar, a party worker told reporters.

PTI