By IANS,
Chennai : Labelling opinion polls manipulated, Congress chief in Tamil Nadu K.V. Thangkabalu says the DMK-Congress alliance will surprise pundits by winning the April 13 elections on the basis of its performance not just at the centre but also in the state.
“The opinion polls are manipulated. Judging by the crowd our parties attract and their response, we are sure the DMK-led front will secure two-third majority,” Thangkabalu told IANS over the phone from Coimbatore, about 500 km from here.
Challenging the notion that the AIADMK will come to power, he said the party was banking on the performance plank – the working of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi and the DMK’s in the state.
With six days to go for the April 13 polls in Tamil Nadu, the Congress will soon come out with its manifesto and also surprise political pundits by winning a large number of seats.
He said party officials were busy with the visits of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress president campaigned for the alliance candidates here Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi is addressing election rallies in Karur, Karaikudi and Tuticorin.
The prime minister will campaign in Coimbatore April 9.
The Congress is a major constituent of the DMK-led alliance and is contesting in 63 of the 234 seats.
Critics feel the party would win in only 20 of 63 constituencies. But Thangkabalu disagreed.
“The Congress will bag a large number of seats. The DMK-led alliance will sweep the polls. It is going to be a hands down victory.”
The DMK is contesting in 119 seats and the Congress in 63, VCK in 10, PMK in 30 and KNMK in 7 seats.