Cong will contest in Erode East, it is our seat: KS Alagiri

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president on Thursday categorically stated that the by-poll bound Erode East constituency was their seat and the Congress party would contest in it.

Speaking to media persons after leading an agitation against Governor R N Ravi in the city for repeatedly proposing Sanathan Dharma cherished by the RSS, Alagiri said, “Congress will contest. Congress will only contest because it is our constituency. We contested the seat. We won the seat.”

Adding that they would seek the support of their allies DMK, left parties, VCK, MDMK and Muslim parties for the by-poll, Alagiri said, “We will meet them (alliance leaders) this evening. You must campaign in support of the Congress party.” Alagiri said this in response to a query on whether his party would concede the seat to alliance leader DMK, which is understood to be contemplating a candidate of its own in the event of its arch rival AIADMK contesting in the by poll.

Asked about the AIADMK commencing poll works by meeting its ally TMC leaders Thursday morning, Alagiri sarcastically said, “Does mere meeting mean commencement of election works.”

TMC resolves to retain Erode East

Meanwhile, Tamil Manila Congress, the breakaway faction of the Congress and ally of the opposition AIADMK, on Thursday resolved to retain the Erode East constituency which it had unsuccessfully contested in 2021. A resolution insisting on retaining Erode East seat was adopted by the Erode district unit of TMC less than an hour after its leader G K Vasan told reporters in the company of alliance AIADMK leaders at his residence here that the victory of the alliance was high on his priority.

Former MLA and senior TMC leader Vidiyal Sekar, who met media persons along with M Yuvaraja, the losing candidate of the party in 2021, in Erode said that they have adopted a unanimous resolution to the effect that the TMC must retain Erode East seat. Leader G K Vasan must hold talks with alliance leaders and retain the constituency, Sekar said The TMC would strive for the victory of such a candidate announced in consultation with the allies, he added.