TN: NCP to contest 30 Assembly seats

Tamil Nadu unit of the Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday said it plans to contest in 30 seats for the May 8 Assembly polls in the state. Releasing the first list of 16 candidates, NCP state President G P Sarathy told reporters in Chennai that the second list comprising names of 14 candidates would be released next week.

Sarathy and Minority Cell Chairman Syed Mohammed said that the party, which had been concentrating in rural areas of the state, would focus on the demand that an agriculturist should be made the chief minister.

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The party felt that migration of rural population to urban areas must be curbed and only strengthening the rural economy could do this.

Students Wing state president L Muthusamy said the party wanted 33 per cent reservation in legislature for those with an agriculture background. Sarathy and Muthusamy said NCP was not prepared to align with any party and had contested on its own the previous elections, as it wanted to become an alternative to the two Dravidian parties.

He said by leaving the Democratic Progressive Alliance and aligning with the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam, Murumalarchi Dravida Munetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko had, "...failed to respect democracy and the mandate of the people."