Friday, August 26 2005 18:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vellore(TN): Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam (DMK) will virtually kick-off its electioneering for next year's Tamil Nadu Assembly polls at its two-day zonal conference beginning here from tomorrow (Aug 27, 2005).

Describing the meet as a 'turning point in the state's political history,' party's chief organiser and front-ranking leader Duraimurgan told reporters in Vellore that the DMK was holding a conference here after a gap of 34 years.

After the conference here in 1966, the party was voted to power in the assembly polls next year, dislodging Congress.

The party had conducted a conference here again in 1971, which was closely followed by a snap poll to the state assembly that year, in which also DMK emerged victorious.

Going by past record, the Vellore conference would be 'a forerunner for the things to happen after next year's assembly polls,' Duraimurugan claimed.

The conference also assumed significance, as it was the first after the party leadership had completed its prepoll consultations with its cadre.

DMK President M Karunanidhi and other top leaders had been meeting party cadre district wise and the exercise was completed yesterday (Aug 25, 2005).

He had been telling his cadre not to be lethargic and strive hard for the party's victory in the next year's assembly polls.

Karunanidhi, in a statement at Chennai, said the conference would take a decision on launching an agitation against the Election Commission, if it did not take action against those, who attempted to 'stuff' electoral rolls with bogus voters. DMK would be organising a women's rally here in September, demanding early reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

The date of the rally would be announced at the conference, he said.