DMK leader asks Stalin to offboard Cong for TN civic polls

A senior DMK leader Saturday asked party chief M K Stalin not to take on board key ally Congress for the local body polls, expected to be held shortly and instead go it alone.

K N Nehru, a former State Minister and DMK's district secretary, addressing a protest demonstration here, said tall claims were being made by Congress leaders on getting maximum number of seats from DMK for the local body polls.

"A Congress functionary has claimed to get 35 wards in south Chennai. Another wants 50 seats elsewhere. If this is their mindset, what will be left for DMK workers?
Hence "I am telling our president; to be of proper use to the people, it will be better for us to face the local body elections alone."
The Tiruchirapalli district party stalwart asked how long could the party be "palanquin bearers".."we are carrying them (Congress) on our shoulders."
Asked if his remark was a tactic to contest in more number of seats, he said: "for sure we will fight in more number of seats in the local body elections."
If this remark meant Congress would not be taken along for the local polls, he said he was "only a district secretary incharge of five Assembly constituencies. Can I take such decisions? This can only be decided by party chief (Stalin)."