“Move to contest alone hailed by Cong. cadres”

After a long gap, the multi-cornered contest without alliances was a great opportunity for the Congress to strengthen its base in Tamil Nadu. This would indeed provide a wider platform for the party to carve a political space on its own without the Dravidian parties in future, said Union Shipping Minister G. K. Vasan on Saturday. Addressing a press conference here, he said that the volunteers were happy and upbeat and had welcomed the decision of the high command to contest alone in the local body polls. Mr. Vasan said that the party had a bright chance of winning in many places. Introducing the Mayor Candidate, I. Siluvai, he said that the candidate had been a three-time councillor and had fought for the rights of the people. He was instrumental in bringing more fair price shops, expediting the drainage project, fighting for a bus stand at Bethanipauram and introduction of new bus routes. Mr. Vasan said that the Central Government had introduced pioneering schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Bharat Nirman and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission which not only strengthened democracy but also paved way for large-scale development. For these schemes to become much more effective, people should vote for the Congress. For the development of Madurai, Central Government had funded tourism development, second Vaigai water scheme, check dams in the Vaigai, solid waste management and slum rehabilitation scheme, he said. The Union Minister also said that the Congress, if elected, would pitch for metro rail and tourism development along with many other major schemes like adequate safe drinking water for all households and make Madurai Corporation a model one. Answering to a question on Congress's failure despite being part of the ruling alliance in proper implementation of Central Government schemes, he said that all the schemes were on-going projects and “so we will continue fighting for proper implementation and will come up with monitoring systems.” When asked whether the State Election Commission's approach was biased, he said that in a democracy elections were very important and SEC should ensure that elections were conducted in a democratic way without any room for violence and misuse. This trend of political parties fighting it alone would be favourable for a national party like Congress, he said. Later, campaigning at K. Pudur in support of the party candidates, Mr. Vasan said that for the last 43 years the Dravidian parties with the support of Congress were able to capture power but now it was time for a change and it should start here in the local body polls. He asked the voters to elect Congress candidates. He campaigned at Jaihindpuram, Munichalai, Jhansi Rani Park and Arapalayam Cross Road. N. S. V. Chithan, MP, former MP A. G. S. Ram Babu and former MLA K. S. K Rajendran were also present