Political parties have speeded up their activities following the announcement of poll dates for civic elections in the Union territory.
The parties have been calling for applications from aspiring contestants to shortlist the probable. The mood is upbeat in the party offices with enthusiasm among the cadre, looking for an opportunity to contest.
However, the most important aspect of alliance is yet to be decided for the major parties. The Congress and its ally the DMK had swept the previous local body polls in 2006. Though the parties are in alliance at the Centre, both have expressed a mixed feeling with regard to contesting in alliance.
A few Congressmen feel that by contesting alone the party would be able to provide opportunity to a greater number of their partymen. However, another consideration is that contesting in alliance would increase their chances of victory against the ruling AINRC.
On the other hand, the Karaikal unit of DMK has adopted a resolution for contesting alone in the civic polls and have sent the same to their party high command for consideration. However, the Puducherry unit of DMK is waiting for response from party supremo M Karunanidhi.
“AICC leaders and Karunanidhi will discuss and let us know about it,“ a senior Congress leader said. In a couple of days the alliance issues will be sorted out, he said. The ruling AINRC and AIADMK which contested the assembly elections in alliance are unlikely to come together again considering the burnt bridges between them.
The AINRC and AIADMK are likely to go alone, if Congress and DMK contest in alliance. If not there could be an alliance between AINRC and DMK and another alliance between Congress and AIADMK if Congress snaps ties with DMK at the centre, which again looks remote.
The left parties would contest the elections on their own by having an understanding of seats among the left parties. They have urged the AIRNC government to refrain from attempting to postpone the elections. Preceding the parliamentary elections, the civic polls, if conducted, will indicate the political base of the parties, which will make the elections a significant one.