Chennai, March 25(BPNS)
The BJP state leadership on the directive from National leadership of the party is wooing the fishermen community who have announced boycott of the ensuing assembly elections.
BJP is in an alliance with All India NR Congress(AINRC), and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchi(PMK) at Puducherry.
While BJP is contesting only 2 of the five seats of Karaikal district of Puducherry at Tirunallar and Neravy TR Pattanam out of the 5 assembly segments of Karaikal region.
A heavy concentration of fishermen are in Neravy ,Karaikal South and North constituencies and the party does not want to loose a single vote in the elections which are considered as crucial for the BJP as it does not want anything short of power in Puducherry. The party has already announced that the NDA leader and President of AINRC, N Rangaswamy will be the Chief minister candidate.
BJP leader and party state president Swaminthan while speaking to BPNS said,” The party is keen that the NDA win Puducheery in the assembly elections and for that each and every vote counts. The BJP state leadership has already opened communication channels with the Fishermen leaders who are spearheading the agitation to boycott elections in Karaikal and we have promised them that all their issues will be taken care of.“
It may be noted that the United Fishermen Association has announced boycott of Karaikal region and the NDA has already communicated to the fishermen leaders on the same.
John Jerry, leader of the fishermen group while speaking to BPNS said, “Yes the BJP leadership including its state leaders have communicated with us. We have not yet decided to revoke our decision to boycott the polls but will consider it if the demands raised by the fishermen are met. The final decision will be taken after we hold a grand meeting of all our people and will communicate our decision to the BJP leadership by coming Monday.”
The BJP central leadership has already communicated to the state unit to somehow settle the fishermen’s issue.
