Opposition in knots over joint candidate

PUDUCHERRY: The stage is set for the election of the speaker to the13th Assembly of the Union Territory and it is now the opposition that has to do some quick thinking. For, looming large is the billion dollar question - would the opposition parties be able to field a joint candidate against the AINRC candidate. That it is indeed a tricky matter was borne out by the fact that none of the leaders of the opposition parties were able to give an answer to the same.Former chief minister V Vaithilingam said that the party would discuss the issue and take a decision on Monday evening.Pointing out that after the election of the speaker, the strength of the ruling and opposition parties (provided they stood united) would be equal in number, namely 14, Vaithilingam said that the speaker may have to cast vote every time a crucial bill or issue came up. Interestingly, Congress was yet to name its legislature party leader.AIADMK MLA and legislature party leader A Anbazhagan said a decision on all issues relating to the speaker’s election would be taken by party general secretary J Jayalalithaa.Asked on the joint opposition candidate, he said that the joint candidate who might be agreeable to them, might not be agreeable to their arch political rivals, DMK and vice versa. It may be noted that AIADMK is vehemently opposed to the Congress-DMK combine at the Centre, as well as in Tamil Nadu.Both Vaithilingam and Anbazhagan have asked CM Rangasamy to prove his party’s majority on the floor of the house. And that too without the support of the nominated MLAs.DMK’s Puducherry chief and former chief minister R V Janakiraman, when contacted, said that he would consult alliance partner Congress and take a decision.Pondy has a 30-member Assembly. In the April 13 polls,  the AINRC had won 14, Congress seven, AIADMK five, DMK two, with one being bagged by an Independent. CM Rangasamy, who was elected from two constituencies, had vacated the Indira Nagar seat for which the polls have to be held.The latter has the support of the Independent candidate.