Tie-up with DMK led to Congres defeat in Pondy

PUDUCHERRY: The Congress, which could win only seven out of the 17 seats it contested and lost power in the UT, has cited the influence of the AIADMK wave in TN and blamed its alliance with the DMK for its defeat in the Assembly polls. The party MLAs, along with PPCC president A V Subramanian, who called on AICC supremo Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday, explained to her that in six constituencies bordering Tamil Nadu, the results went against the Congress.Further, they stated that the alliance with DMK and PMK affected the prospects of the party. Not only was it affected by scams, the party could not even field several candidates who had good winning chances,  due to seat-sharing with the allies.  The party maintained that as in 2001, the UT Congress wanted to go it alone in the elections this time also, but fell short of time. The party did not have the time to approach her for considering such an option, they added. Also, the merger of the two constituencies of Paloor and Mahe into Mahe, and the trifurcation of Thattanchavady, which was nurtured by NR when he was with the Congress, proved disadvantageous to the party, reliable sources in the Congress said.