Chennai, May 25 (IANS) The AIADMK will be contesting for two Rajya Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu, one on its own and the other with the support of its allies. This was decided after a meeting between the opposition parties here Tuesday.
The ruling DMK-Congress combine is expected to bag the remaining four seats in the state.
Contrary to expectations, MDMK leader Vaiko is not a contestant for one of the six Rajya Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu, falling vacant next month for which elections are slated June 17.
On Tuesday evening, leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the MDMK met AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa at her residence and offered their support.
Jayalalithaa had earlier written to the allies seeking their support for her party’s candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections.
At the meeting, Jayalalithaa thanked the leaders of friendly parties for their support.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vaiko said on the request of the AIADMK for support in the June 17 Rajya Sabha elections, the allies have decided to support its candidates.
G. Ramakrishnan, CPI-M’s Tamil Nadu secretary, said the ruling parties at the state and the centre are following ‘anti-people policies’ and hence his party has decided to extend support to the AIADMK.
The party wise position in the Tamil Nadu assembly is DMK 99 members, AIADMK-57, Congress-36, CPI-M-9, CPI-6, MDMK-3, VCK-2, DMDK-1, Independent-1, Unattached-1, Nominated-1, Speaker-1.
