DMK statehood pitch gains momentum in Puducherry

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam stepped up its poll groundwork in Puducherry with the second phase of constituency-wise party workers’ meetings for Kathirkamam and Nellithope held on Wednesday evening.
The Kathirkamam meeting took place at Tamil Marriage Hall on Vazhudavur Road at 5 pm, followed by the Nellithope session at Keerthi Mahal on Lenin Street at 7 pm.
The first phase covering Kalapet, Muthialpet and Uppalam constituencies was conducted on February 20.
State Organiser and Leader of the Opposition R. Siva presided. Constituency Secretary Vadivel and General Council member Thangavelu led the Kathirkamam meeting.
In Nellithope, General Council members Karthikeyan and Velavan led the proceedings, while Constituency Secretary Natarajan delivered the welcome address. Headquarters Coordinator and Propaganda Secretary S. Jagathrakshakan, Member of Parliament, said Puducherry was neglected in the Union Budget and reiterated that securing Statehood would be the DMK’s first priority. He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unfulfilled promises and contrasted Puducherry’s industrial growth with Tamil Nadu under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
R. Siva recalled the contributions of former Chief Minister R.V. Janakiraman and accused BJP leader A. John Kumar of promoting casinos and lottery
interests. MLAs M. Anantharaman alias Annibal Kennedy, K. Senthilkumar and Sampath, former MLA Moorthy, State Deputy Organiser Thairiyanathan, Kalapet Senthil, K.M.P. Logaiyan, J.V.S. Arumugam, C. Gopal, M. Prabakaran, S.S. Senthilkumar, Sakthivel, Thiagarajan and Ilanchezhiyapandian were among those present.