PMK and NTK view the upcoming urban local bodies elections as an opportunity

Smaller parties want to position themselves as an alternative

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which harbour big ambitions in Tamil Nadu, are gearing up for the urban local bodies elections. In these elections, they see another opportunity to position themselves as the alternative to the DMK as well as the AIADMK.

PMK sources said the party would contest alone in the elections as announced by the leadership recently. But they underlined that the allotment of the post of Mayor of the municipal corporations in and around Chennai to the Scheduled Castes should have been avoided and the representation of the community should have been ensured across Tamil Nadu.

However, NTK leaders consider the reservation of the post of Mayor of Chennai and Tambaram for the Scheduled Caste women as an advantage. “The Naam Tamilar Katchi has been fielding an equal number of male and female candidates. We have also fielded more candidates from the Scheduled Castes. In fact, in November 2019, our leader Seeman urged the State government to reserve the post of Chennai Mayor for the Scheduled Castes and implement the reservation system for the post of Deputy Mayor too,” NTK spokesperson Packiarajan Sethuramalingam said.