DMK-led Alliance in Puducherry: Appeal to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
Tamil Nadu: During a meeting with party leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, DMK functionaries from Puducherry emphatically asserted that any alliance formed should be under the leadership of the DMK.
The DMK has received 15,372 applications to contest the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Against this backdrop, the screening process for candidates commenced on Tuesday at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai, under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. As part of this process, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reviewed the DMK aspirants who had submitted applications to contest elections from all 30 Assembly constituencies in Puducherry. General Secretary Duraimurugan, Treasurer D.R. Baalu, Principal Secretary K.N. Nehru, Organizing Secretary R.S. Bharathi, and Jagathrakshakan—who has been appointed as the DMK’s election in-charge for Puducherry—participated in this exercise.
Candidates were questioned regarding the political situation in their respective constituencies, their prospects of victory, their public profile within the region, and the strength of the opposition parties.
Subsequently, the Puducherry functionaries who attended the meeting told reporters: “We have requested Chief Minister Stalin that, just as there is a DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu, a government led by the DMK should be formed in Puducherry as well. We also emphasized that the DMK itself should take the lead in heading the alliance.” In response, Chief Minister Stalin stated that a final decision would be taken only after holding discussions with the other parties involved in the alliance. Some functionaries also indicated that they are prepared to contest the elections independently, should the party leadership issue such a directive. A total of 120 individuals from Puducherry put forward their candidature, and their interviews were conducted.
While the process of filing nominations for the Puducherry elections officially commenced on Monday, no final decision has yet been reached regarding seat-sharing arrangements between the DMK and the Congress party. In the previous election in Puducherry, the DMK—which contested 13 seats in alliance with the Congress—emerged as the principal opposition party by winning 6 seats.
Meanwhile, a request made by party functionaries to Chief Minister Stalin to form a DMK-led government in Puducherry has created a stir within the political circles there.
OPS is arriving today for the scrutiny process. The districts covered include Thoothukudi South, Thoothukudi North, Tirunelveli East, Tirunelveli Central, Tirunelveli West, Tenkasi North, Tenkasi South, Kanyakumari East, and Kanyakumari West.
On Wednesday (March 18) at 9:00 AM, a screening session will be held for those who have applied to contest the elections from these constituencies.
At 4:00 PM, the selection process will take place for the districts of Madurai North, Madurai Managara, Madurai South, Theni North, Theni South, Virudhunagar North, Virudhunagar South, Ramanathapuram, and Sivaganga. O. Panneerselvam, who plans to contest from the Bodinayakkanur constituency, will participate in these proceedings.
On Thursday (March 19) at 9:00 AM, the districts of Karur, Namakkal East, Namakkal West, Erode North, Erode South, Erode Central, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore Managara, Coimbatore South, Tiruppur North, Tiruppur Central, and The Nilgiris will be visited; at 4:00 PM, the districts of Krishnagiri East, Krishnagiri West, Tiruppur East, Tiruppur South, Dindigul East, and Dindigul West will be visited; and on March 20 at 9:00 AM, the districts of Ranipet, Vellore North, Vellore South, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai North, and Tiruvannamalai South will be visited. And at 4:00 PM, the districts of Dharmapuri East, Dharmapuri West, Salem Central, Salem East, Salem West, Kallakurichi North, and Kallakurichi South will be visited.
On March 21, at 9:00 AM, the districts of Trichy North, Trichy Central, Trichy South, Thanjavur North, Thanjavur South, Thanjavur Central, Perambalur, and Ariyalur will be visited; and at 4:00 PM, the districts of Pudukkottai North, Pudukkottai South, Cuddalore West, Mayiladuthurai City, and Tiruvarur will be visited. On March 22, at 9:00 AM, the districts of Cuddalore East, Villupuram North, Villupuram Central, Villupuram South, and Kanchipuram South; and at 4:00 PM, the districts of Tiruvallur East, Tiruvallur Central, Tiruvallur West, Kanchipuram North, Chennai North, Chennai North-East, Chennai South-West, Chennai South, Chennai West, and Chennai East.
