Cong. to campaign for PMK

By Radha Venkatesan

CHENNAI, MARCH 23. Dumping its ``concerns and reservations'' over the pro-LTTE Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress today declared that it would ``whole-heartedly'' work for the victory of PMK candidates in the coming Assembly elections in the State.

The Tamil Nadu Congress president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, who till recently was demanding a ban on the PMK for its ``brazen support'' to the LTTE, told presspersons here, ``We will share a platform with PMK leaders and whole-heartedly work for the victory of their candidates.''

Interestingly, when the PMK joined the AIADMK front in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in February, Congress leaders declared that there was no question of ``sharing power or platform with the PMK''. But in a dramatic turn-around, Mr. Elangovan said the Congress and the PMK were now ``part of the secular platform'' and hence, there was no reservation over campaigning for PMK candidates in the State.

Asked if the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, would share a platform with the PMK leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss, he said, ``Our objective is to defeat the communal BJP-DMK combine in the State. So, we will share a platform with PMK leaders.''

On their earlier stand, Mr. Elangovan said, ``The sentiments of the cadres were conveyed to the party high command. When the high command has taken a decision to align with the PMK, it is our duty to give 100 per cent support.''

The Congress, reduced to a ``weak rump'' in Tamil Nadu, has cast its lot with the AIADMK for 15 Assembly seats. It appears to have decided to go all-out to please the PMK to ensure that the Vanniar-dominant party does not sabotage its electoral chances. ``Our workers will intensively campaign in all the constituencies where the PMK contests,'' Mr. Elangovan said.

The Congress and the TMC would jointly hold discussions with the AIADMK on finalising the constituencies they would contest, Mr. Elangovan and the former TNCC president, Mr. K.V. Thangabalu, said after meeting functionaries at the party headquarters here.

Apparently, the Congress is seeking a few seats in northern Tamil Nadu, where the PMK is considered to be traditionally strong.

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