2011 Tamil Nadu polls: PMK hints at floating separate alliance

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) today hinted at a possibility of floating a separate alliance for next year's Tamil Nadu assembly polls, like the one in 1996, if the talks between it and DMK did not yield results.


"We held one round of talks with DMK through the five member committee led by GK Mani. The chief minister had said further talks could be held after the world classical Tamil conference," PMK founder leader S Ramadoss told reporters in Madurai.
He said PMK could form its own alliance of social justice. "We won in four seats earlier. A similar thing can happen now. We are confident of getting a good chunk of votes," he said.
Ramadoss recalled they had come out of the AIADMK alliance before the Pennagaram bypolls, though the AIADMK had offered them Rajya Sabha seat and Pennagaram seats. DMK sent them out on the basis of some remarks made by PMK leader K Guru. "Now we are neither with DMK or AIADMK."
The PMK leader said there was also a possibility of aligning with Congress.
Asked if the party had decided not to align with the front where DMDK was a partner, he said, "There are no permanent foes or friends in politics."
He also demanded that all action against suspended IAS officer Uma Shankar be withdrawn and he be reinstated. "An honest officer, he had been victimised for questioning certain government decisions," he said.

Umashankar was suspended on charges of producing a false community certificate to claim SC quota during his civil services selection.

Ramadoss said the officer had joined service only after submitting proper caste certificate. Even if he had not done so, it was for UPSC to take action and not the state government.

"The chief minister who has been demanding reservation for Dalit Christians should not have taken action against him as it was against DMK policy," he said.

He also condemned the power tariff hike in Tamil Nadu and alleged that lack of power generation for the past 10 years and purchase of power from private companies at high cost were the reasons behind this.

The state electricity Board regulatory authority had said there was 18 per cent distribution and line loss. If they had taken steps to prevent it, then Rs6,000 crore could have been saved, he said.