CHENNAI: Consolidating the Muslim votes in the State ahead of a tough Assembly election test, the DMK has managed to rope in Islamic outfits Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and SDPI to its alliance.
The MMK, led by MH Jawahirulla MLA, was with the AIADMK during the last elections, in which it won two of three seats it contested. However, the alliance was largely limited to an electoral understanding.
Today, a three-member team from MMK, including Jawahirulla, party general secretary Abdul Samad and treasurer Rahmatullah, called on DMK treasurer MK Stalin, who is also the leader of the party’s committee that has been entrusted with the task of holding talks with the allies.
Emerging from the meeting that was held at Stalin’s residence, Jawahirulla said the seat-sharing talks between the two parties would commence in the next couple of days.
Jawahirulla added that parties, including DMDK and TMC, should join the DMK-led alliance. When asked, Stalin told the media that it was the personal opinion of the MMK leader, pointing out that the DMK had invited DMDK leader Vijayakant, who, however, had decided to go solo. It is believed that the party is eyeing about 10-12 seats, though the actual figure would depend on a variety of factors including the actual number of allies.
Meanwhile, the SDPI, too, called on the DMK leadership on Saturday evening. Party sources told Express that the primary effort at this point was to consolidate secular votes. Further talks on matters including seat-sharing would be held in the next few days, the sources added.
PMK Petitions EC to Rein in state-run Arasu TV
Chennai: Alleging that the State-run Arasu Cable TV corporation was promoting the interests of the ruling party, the PMK has shot off a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner on Saturday. In his letter to the CEC, PMK president GK Mani alleged that the cable TV corporation, now headed by a member of the AIADMK as its chairman, was blocking television channels, including those run by opposition parties. To avoid this, he suggested that the corporation be brought under the control of an IAS officer from the pool of election observers.
Rs 9.64 crore Cash seized by flying Squads in tn
Chennai: The Election Commission-appointed flying squads and stationary surveillance teams so far seized over Rs 9.64 crore in cash, which were being carried without valid documents across Tamil Nadu. According to an official statement here, flying squads have seized 840 wall clocks in Villupuram district, 177 gas stoves and 1,895 gas tubes in Pudukottai district, and liquor bottles in Madurai and Coimbatore districts. For various violations, including improper use of vehicles and amplifiers, 1,306 FIRs have been registered.
30 fringe parties in a huddle with aiadmk
Chennai:Getting into the groove to face the upcoming Assembly elections, the ruling AIADMK held talks with smaller outfits that have pledged support to it, at its headquarters in Chennai on Saturday. Senior leaders, including O Panneerselvam, ‘Natham’ R Viswanathan and R Vaithilingam, held talks with over 30 marginal and fringe organisations on Saturday, which lasted till afternoon. The outfits handed over letters of support for AIADMK in the ensuing election. On Friday, the election committee held a meeting with TVK founder T Velmurugan.