PM to campaign for DMK-led DPA in TN on April 9

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will campaign for the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance in which Congress is a key constituent, here on April 9, a top TNCC functionary said today.

Along with Singh, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran and state minister Pongalur N Palanisamy and local Congress and DMK leaders would also address the election rally, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K V Thangkabalu told reporters here.

Since campaigning has reached its peak, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin would not be in a position to take part in the rally, he said. About personal attacks during the campaign, Thangkabalu said the opposition had no other issues and indulged in such tactics against the ruling DMK, which was campaigning on its ideology and achievements.

On dissatisfaction among Congress workers, particularly on selection of candidates, he said in the initial stage, there was some resentment, but now all party workers and also that of alliance partners were working unitedly to create history in Tamil Nadu by making Karunanidhi Chief Minister for the sixth time, he said.

He claimed that the alliance was getting overwhelming response from the electorate in the past few days. History would repeat as in 2004, 2006 and 2009 when the DPA in Tamil Nadu won Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, he said.

It would be better to have a government in the State which has good relationship and understanding with the Centre, he said. People of Tamil Nadu, who faced a lot hardships in the previous (AIADMK) regime, did not wish to "repeat the mistake" by installing such a Government, which confronted the Centre, he added.