Tuticorin: Elect DMK for State's further progress, says Karunanidhi

By S. Dorairaj

TUTICORIN, MAY 3. The DMK president Mr. M. Karunanidhi, during his second and concluding day of electioneering in Tuticorin district on Thursday, reiterated that the current Assembly poll was the `last election' for him.

Addressing an election meeting at Kovilpatti town, he said, `I have no intention to contest elections in future.'

`No, no. You should continue to lead us for hundred years to come', was the crowd's response to his remark.

However Mr. Karunanidhi said, he had made his foray in public life as ``Periyar's student and Anna's brother''. He also made it clear that his entry into politics was not merely election- oriented.

His intention was not to become Chief Minister, but to bring back the DMK to power for another term. This is to ensure that the various ongoing development projects were fulfilled and new ones introduced, he said.

Listing out several welfare schemes initiated by the Government such as comprehensive health care project, Anna Marumalarchi scheme, Namakku Naame thittam, rural roads, drinking water projects etc., he said, some special projects, including the hi- tech industrial park at Nanguneri, a modern port at Colachel etc. had also been set in motion.

If implementation of these projects were fulfilled, then the entire southern Tamil Nadu would become a `paradise', he asserted. Responding to demands from the local people to protect the indigenous match industry, Mr. Karunanidhi said, steps had already been taken by the Union Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, to stop import of safety matches.

The Puthiya Tamizhagam chief, Dr. K. Krishnasamy, who also addressed the meeting, said, though the Opposition was dubbing the DMK-led front an alliance of casteist parties, it was in fact striving for communal harmony in the State, he said.

Earlier, accompanied by Mr. Maran and the Front candidates, Mr. Karunanidhi addressed several wayside meetings at Saminatham, Puthiamputhur, Ottapidaram and Muppilipatti in Ottapidaram segments, Kurukkusalai and Eppothum Venran in Vilathikulam segments, Keezhayeral, Ettayapuram, Karungalipatti and Elampoovanam in Kovilpatti constituency.

He canvassed for the DMK candidates, Mr. R. K. P. Rajasekaran (Vilathikulam) and Mr. K. Rajarajam (Kovilpatti), besides campaigning for Dr. Krishnasamy (Ottapidaram).

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Section  : State Elections
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