Strange alliances breed stranger election campaigns. When the PMK candidate for Pondicherry constituency Dr M. Ramdas came here for his campaign today, he was ‘‘shared’’ by the UDF and LDF camps, both part of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu which is supporting Dr Ramdas.While the UDF camp took him for campaigning from morning till evening, his programmes after dusk were devoted to the LDF. The pact was that he will attend street-corner meetings organised by the UDF and then address public meetings in the evening at Mahe and Pallur organised by the LDF.Dr Ramdas, who arrived here this morning, was received by UDF workers at the station in the traditional Congress style. The LDF leaders, however, kept away.Later, the candidate came to the Cherukallayi Martyrs Memorial Building which is also the LDF election committee office. After the speech, the candidate was duly ‘‘handed over’’ to the Congress again to attend various meetings in Mahe and Pallur.In the evening, the candidate was ‘‘returned’’ to the LDF and Dr Ramdas addressed two public meetings.Asked why both fronts did not organise joint meetings, a local CPI leader said it would have a negative impact in Kerala where the UDF and LDF are fighting each other.
