Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address a public meeting at Coimbatore at 5 p.m. on April 9 campaigning for the candidates of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K.V. Thangkabalu and Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran told reporters here on Wednesday.
Details relating to the venue would be announced after obtaining the necessary security clearance.
Addressing presspersons, Mr. Thangkabalu said that the Congress-DMK alliance had emerged victorious whenever the AICC leader Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Singh had campaigned in Tamil Nadu in 2004, 2006 and 2009. The strength of the DPA had increased manifold now because of the performance of the Centre and the State Government in respect of delivery of schemes, he said.
The public meeting on April 9 will be attended by Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Minister Pongalur N Palanisamy.
Because of the cordial relationship and the compatibility that existed between the Union Government and the State Government, Tamil Nadu got many schemes and funds with ease ensuring good for the public. DMK leader M. Karunanidhi had fulfilled all the promises that he made in the 2006 election manifesto and had even delivered more than what was promised.
When asked about the differences that cropped up over the choice of Congress candidates, Mr. Thangkabalu said that it was quite common among political parties and things have streamlined now and added that "all is well now". The only alliance with better co-ordination and co-operation within the party cadre and as well as with the allies was the DMK led DPA alliance, he said.
When asked about increasing personal attacks in the campaign, Mr. Thangkabalu said that the parties in the DPA were clear and they focus only on projecting the policies, achievements and works done. Whereas the opposite camp which had nothing to speak about its achievements or policies was indulging in personal attacks, he added.
When asked about the criticisms against the Election Commission of India, Mr. Thangkabalu said that Congress always wanted the Election Commission to remain an independent entity. "We always wanted the Election Commission" to remain neutral. The DPA allies had already registered their concerns with the Election Commission on the actions initiated by the officials in the name of model code of conduct. The objective of the Election Commission of India for ensuring free and fair elections were welcome but the ways in which they were being implemented has become a cause for concern, he said referring to the instance of the official machinery in Madurai exerting pressure for registering a case against an Union Minister.
The TNCC President said that the DPA public meeting in Chennai on Tuesday night was conducted after overcoming the hurdles caused by the official machinery in the name of model code of conduct. The officials seeking various details brought the works at the public meeting venue to a halt for nearly an hour on Monday night. Later, we had to explain them that arrangements were being done well within the frame work of the poll code and resume the works, Mr. Thangkabalu said.
