DMK to contest 11 seats in Pondicherry

Special Correspondent

PMK bargaining for more seats from Congress-led front

PMK likely to get two seats Communist Party of India may get one

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will contest 11 seats as part of the Congress-led alliance in Pondicherry.

DMK Pondicherry unit organiser R.V.Janakiraman and Pondicherry State Congress president P.Shanmugham signed an agreement to this effect on Sunday

Commenting on the pact, DMK president M.Karunanidhi said the party had asked for 12 seats and settled for 11.

All India Congress Committee secretary B.K.Hariprasad MP, who is in-charge of the Congress affairs in Pondicherry, told The Hindu that the Pattali Makkal Katchi was likely to get two seats and the Communist Party of India one.

But the PMK is apparently seeking more seats. The Territorial Assembly has a strength of 30.

In 2001, the Congress contested the elections independent of the DMK and the PMK. While the DMK was in alliance with the BJP, the PMK was part of the AIADMK-led front. The Congress won 11 of the 21 seats it contested , while the DMK was returned from seven out of 15 seats. The PMK and the CPI drew a blank.

The DMK will contest from Raj Bhavan, Bussy, Urulayanpet, Nellithope, Mudaliarpet, Karaikkal (north), Niravi, Uppalam, Muthialpet, Mannadiput and Usudu (reserved) seats.

The Congress will retain the seats it won in 2001. The other seats will be identified in a day or two.