Will go it alone in Tamil Nadu if there is no alliance: P Chidambaram

SIVAGANGA (TN): Facing the daunting task of going it alone in the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, Congress has put up a brave face with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram saying they would field candidates in all 40 constituencies, including Pudcherry, even if there is no alliance.

"Congress can face elections alone or with allies. Parties like Janata Party, United Janata Dal fell into oblivion, but Congress is not like that. Even if there is no alliance we will field candidates in all 40 RPT 40 constituencies (39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry) and seek votes telling people about the party's achievements," he said.

The minister was addressing the party's booth committee workers at Manamadurai in the district yesterday.

Congress' last-minute efforts to stitch an alliance with DMK was reportedly blocked by its senior leader M K Stalin, while actor-politician Vijaykanth-led DMDK, wooed by it, has embraced the BJP combine.

AIADMK is contesting all 40 seats, including one in neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, on its own. DMK has firmed up alliance with IUML, MMK, VCK and Puthiya Tamizhagam.

Left parties are also left with no allies after their alliance with AIADMK collapsed over sharing of seat.

In the 2009 elections, Congress, a partner in the DMK-led DPA, had contested 16 seats and won nine of them, while the front itself claimed an impressive 28 seats.