R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 27
Stating that both Dravidian parties have let down Yadavs by not granting quota, Samajwadi Party TN unit President Ilango Yadav on Saturday said it will field candidates from Yadav-dominated Assembly constituencies and bring wheels of change in their lives.
Addressing the reporters, Ilango Yadav said, “The party will field 100 candidates from Yadav-dominated Assembly constituencies and bring wheels of change in their lives. The party has identified constituencies having 5,000 to 50,000 Yadava community voters across Tamil Nadu. It has decided to face the election solo as per the instructions from the party’s high command. The party would contest on ’Cycle’ symbol allotted by the ECI.”
Despite the party’s untiring efforts to get a reservation for the Yadava community — most of them gracing cattle and into the dairy business — had been neglected for the last three decades by both the Dravidian parties. The party has been demanding 15 percent reservation in education and employment all along but in vain, Yadav added.
“Eyeing the poll pie the EPS government has passed a bill ensuring 10.5 percent reservation for Vanniyars which is highly condemnable,” he said.
The decision to face the election individually was taken as per the advice of the senior leader and former Chief Minister of UP Akhilesh Yadav. The party will win a considerable number of seats and will be the deciding factor who would form the government in the state, Yadav said.
To reap the votes of the Yadava community, the party senior leader Akhilesh Yadav would undertake a campaign trail in 50 places across the state.
The first election meeting would be held in Tiruchirappalli on March 20, Ilango added. Mr. Pandian, State Vice President also present at the press briefing.
