Puducherry, March 21 AIADMK, a constituent of the NDA, said on Saturday that it has happily agreed to contest from two constituencies in order to uphold coalition dharma, and asserted that it would claim a share in power if the alliance wins the upcoming Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters, AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary A Anbazhagan said his party would contest from Uppalam and Orleanpet constituencies, and expressed confidence that the NDA would retain power in Puducherry.
He said: "In the last Assembly elections held in 2021, we contested from five constituencies and lost all of them. This time, we are contesting in two seats, and we will win both. Due to several circumstances, AIADMK is contesting from a reduced number of seats. Following coalition dharma and upholding it, the AIADMK is contesting from only two constituencies."
Further, Anbazhagan said that discussions took place on March 20 and Saturday, and after "permission" from party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, "we happily accepted two seats."
In response to a question, the AIADMK leader said that his party would certainly seek a share in power when the NDA emerges victorious. "Are we in politics to do charity? It is a natural progression for an MLA to become a minister," he said.
The ruling AINRC and the BJP-AIADMK combine reached an agreement for the Assembly elections in the union territory, where the AINRC will contest 16 seats, and the BJP will fight from the remaining 14.
The arrangements were finalised after Puducherry Chief Minister and AINRC leader N Rangasamy held talks with BJP leader and Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya at a hotel here on Friday.
The BJP has allocated two seats each to the AIADMK and the Lakshia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) from its kitty.
The BJP on Saturday released a list of nine candidates for the April 9 Assembly polls in Puducherry, fielding Home Minister A Namassivayam for re-election from Mannadipet constituency.
