PMK to replicate “Pennagaram formula”

Party identifies 70 constituencies across State

Encouraged by the PMK's performance in the Pennagaram by-election, the party has identified 70 constituencies across the State where it feels it can replicate the “Pennagaram formula” successfully.

“We have categorised these 70 constituencies into ‘A' and ‘B,' depending on our support base. In the 40 ‘A' constituencies we have considerable presence, while in the 30 ‘B' constituencies we have a decent support base,” said former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

Speaking to

TheHindu on Sunday, Dr Anbumani said his immediate priority was to strengthen the party and conduct organisational polls. He did not attach too much importance to elections to the Rajya Sabha.

Elected to Rajya Sabha in 2004 when the PMK was part of the DMK alliance, Dr. Anbumani's term ends on June 29, 2010. The PMK later quit the DMK combine and joined hands with the AIADMK for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. At that time, AIADMK also promised a Rajya Sabha seat as part of the agreement. But the PMK snapped its ties with the party immediately after the elections.

“It will be well and good if we get the seat,” he said, but refuted suggestions that the PMK was moving closer to the DMK. “We are not part of any alliance now. But we are getting feelers from all sides in the wake of PMK's excellent performance in Pennagaram,” he said.

Admitting that he and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had mutual soft-corner for each other, he said he would toe the party line and would not compromise its ideology at any cost.

Dr. Anbumani said the party had devised a micro-plan at a recent brainstorming session held in the city to prepare itself as if it was going to contest alone in the next Assembly elections. “But it is impossible for any party to go it alone in the present political scenario. We will decide our ally depending on the situation prevailing at the time of elections,” he said.

Explaining the details of the “Pennagaram formula,” Dr. Anbumani, who has been entrusted with the task of conducting organisational polls, said all leaders, including party founder S. Ramadoss, would work in the constituencies already shortlisted.

“We will do a positive campaign without personal attacks on anyone. We will stay in these constituencies for days together. We will meet everyone including those who have left the party due to difference of opinion over local issues,” he said.

He said it was his objective that at least 80 per cent of the party posts were occupied by youth after the elections were over.