Chennai, March 8 Senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik hailed the partnership between his party and the ruling DMK as a "formidable alliance" on Sunday, expressing confidence about a sweeping victory in the upcoming Assembly elections.
After a two-day review of poll preparedness in neighboring Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, Wasnik emphasized that while the Congress will contest in a targeted number of seats, the party's main focus remains the success of the coalition.
Briefing reporters at the Satyamurthy Bhavan, the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee here, Wasnik, the Rajya Sabha MP, said, "The alliance (between the DMK and Congress) has finally emerged. It is going to be a formidable alliance, and we are confident of getting people's support in Tamil Nadu... you will see after the counting of votes, we will have our government in the State."
After days of parleys, the ruling DMK allotted 28 assembly seats and a Rajya Sabha seat to the Congress on March 4.
AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Girish Chodankar said during the meeting with the local party functionaries, Wasnik issued some guidelines to them based on his vast experience, as he was also held the responsibility of Congress in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
"I am confident that with all the guidelines that he (Wasnik) has given, we will form the government in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry."
Referring to the meeting with regional units of Congress in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he said, "There is tremendous enthusiasm with the leadership in both the states... We have seen that the organization is in full preparedness to go for elections."
"We are extremely confident that the people of Tamil Nadu and the people of Puducherry will repose their faith in these two States," he said.
During his interactions with the regional Congress leadership, he said 'certain suggestions' emerged and the high command would take decisions keeping them in mind.
In Puducherry, Chodankar claimed that the people were 'fed up' with the All India N R Congress and the BJP Government there, and the Congress leadership has taken up all the local issues that are very close to the hearts of the people of Puducherry.
For Tamil Nadu, he said, there are 1,000 active members in 234 assembly constituencies for the Congress who would be directed to channelise all their energy to ensure victory for Congress and alliance party candidates.
"In Tamil Nadu, we can make history by repeating the government because in the last 5 years, we have made a lot of pro-people decisions, a lot of social welfare schemes that we have given, and we are confident with our election preparedness", he said.
Congress leader Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin, who is also appointed as one of the observers for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry said, the discussions with the leadership in both the states was 'cordial' during their brief interactions.
"We will report it to the party leadership (AICC high command), we will take all positive steps for the coming elections in both the States so that we may form the government with the help of our allies in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu."
Meanwhile, Chodankar suffered mild giddiness post the press conference. He was offered first aid immediately and later left for Delhi along with his party colleagues.
