AINRC, BJP extend support to AIADMK candidate for Nov 19

Seeking to give a tough fight to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy in the crucial November 19 by-poll to Nellithope Assembly constituency, both the opposition parties, AINRC and BJP, today decided to support AIADMK.
On a day when Narayanasamy, heading the Congress government in the union territory with the DMK's backing, filed his nomination papers, both AINRC and BJP announced support to AIADMK nominee Om Sakthi Segar, making it virtually a direct contest.
Narayanasamy, along with Congress and DMK functionaries, came in a procession to file his nomination before Returning Officer (RO) G Malarkannan.
The by-poll was necessitated after A John Kumar of the Congress quit the post of MLA on September 15 to enable Narayanasamy, a non-member of the House, seek election.

The Left parties have opted out of the by-poll, while the VCK has pledged its support with the Congress.
AINRC founder and Leader of Opposition N Rangasamy had earlier alleged that the by-poll was "imposed" on the people.

He said his party had decided to support the AIAMDK in view of several instances of "misuse of power" by the Congress and because of "money-power reigning supreme" in the run-up to the by-poll.
He added that the AINRC had written a "detailed letter" to the Election Commission (EC), drawing its attention to the situation.
BJP's local unit general secretary Ravichandran told PTI that his party had taken the decision to ensure the victory of the AIADMK in the by-poll.

He accused Narayanasamy of "having failed the people" by not procuring any developmental projects for Puducherry, in spite of being a Union minister during the UPA rule at the Centre.
The BJP leader said all of Narayanasamy's claims of implementing various schemes since assuming office on June 6 were only "enforcement of the NDA government's schemes", and there was no new scheme evolved by the Puducherry government.
A total of 11 candidates were in the fray on the last day of filing nominations.
Scrutiny is slated for tomorrow, while November 5 is the last day for withdrawal of candidature.