CHENNAI: Proceeding further on cobbling together a front under its leadership for the 2016 assembly elections, the Vanniyar-dominant PMK is holding a conclave of the party’s State and district functionaries on December 27 and 28 to take stock of the political situation and Party heavyweights said the agenda was on chalking out a campaign plan to mobilise support for a PMK-led alliance.
The meeting assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of BJP national president Amit Shah’s declaration that the saffron party would lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu.
PMK president GK Mani said the two-day conclave would be held at Mayilam in Tindivanam. While the meeting of lower-rung functionaries at the level of town, union and town panchayat would be held on 27, the following day is for district and State level functionaries.
Asked whether continuation in the NDA would be discussed in the wake of the BJP laying bare its ambition to lead the alliance, party legal wing president M P Baalu said there was no necessity for that. “With the party having made its position clear, there was no need to reopen the issue and reiterate it. The meeting would go ahead and chalk out tour plans for leaders to mobilise support for the party during the pre-election year,” he said.
Party founder S Ramadoss and youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss, the heir apparent, would fully engage themselves in the deliberations. Ahead of Shah’s visit, the PMK had passed resolutions at its general council and executive committee that it would lead a front for the Assembly elections. The party had also stated that it would not have any truck either with the DMK or AIADMK.
Significantly, it had not excluded national parties including the BJP, while naming many outfits including Vaiko’s MDMK as potential allies.
However, the PMK’s high-level panel which passed resolutions asserting the party’s determination to lead a front was silent on the Chief Ministerial nominee.
It had stopped short of declaring Anbumani Ramadoss. A day before Shah’s visit, Ramadoss, at a party function in Salem, had announced that any party which wanted to be an ally of the PMK should accept it as the alliance leader.
Anbumani Ramadoss also met Amit Shah and pledged the PMK’s support to the Modi government.