Southern States
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Tamil Nadu
Congress keen on jumping into Andipatti poll fray
By Radha Venkatesan
CHENNAI, DEC. 8. Will the Opposition parties, which stood united calling Friday's bandh, field a common candidate against the AIADMK general secretary, Ms.Jayalalithaa, in the crucial by-election from Andipatti ?
With the political spotlight now turning to the nondescript southern constituency, the Opposition parties including the AIADMK allies have begun to finalise their strategy for the all-important bypoll. Despite the recent differences, the Tamil Maaanila Congress and Left parties will not field a candidate against Ms.Jayalalithaa, but the State Congress is keen on contesting the seat.
According to the TNCC president, Mr.E.V.K.S.Elangovan, several partymen have expressed their wish to contest from Andipatti and Saidapet, where byelections are expected to be held in February. But, the high command would finalise the electoral strategy, he said.
Mr.Elangovan said he would hold discussions with the president, Ms.Sonia Gandhi in Delhi tomorrow and decide on whether the party should jump in the Andipatti fray.
Congress functionaries here admit that the party cannot support a common candidate fielded by the DMK-led NDA as it includes the BJP. And, backing its former ally, AIADMK, too will be an embarrassment as the State Congress has been bitterly critical of the ruling party and its leadership in the recent weeks.
However, the Left parties and the TMC, which along with the Congress and the DMK called the bandh to protest the hike in prices and tariffs of essentials by the Government, will not take an anti-Jayalalithaa stand in the byelections.
Sources in the TMC and Left parties assert that the united opposition onslaught on the AIADMK witnessed during the bandh would not extend to the Andipatti byelection.
They would neither field a candidate nor back the DMK-led NDA's nominee against Ms.Jayalalithaa. For, despite the discord over the price hikes, the TMC and Left parties consider the AIADMK their ally.
As for the BJP, its State president, Dr.Kirubanidhi maintained that there was no question of the party backing Ms.Jayalalithaa . ``We are in the NDA. And we will back the NDA candidate,`` he told The Hindu. However, the party's core committee would decide whether the BJP should stake claim to the seat or leave it other NDA allies, he said.
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