Jaya names Suthukeni Baskar for Indira Nagar

PUDUCHERRY: AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, on Thursday, announced that Suthukeni Baskar would be the party’s candidate for the  by-elections in Indira Nagar assembly constituency scheduled for October 13.Baskar(46) was rewarded this opportunity by the party chief for his loyalty. He had worked in various capacities in his 17-year-long career in the party.Baskar had contested the 2006 elections unsuccessfully and finished third in the Mannadipet assembly constituency.  He had filed his paper in the April 13 assembly elections from the Thattanchavady constituency but withdrew in favour of alliance partner,AINRC. Ironically, Basakaris now slated to oppose the same party in the October 13 by-poll.The AINRC is yet to announce its candidate. Union Minister V Narayanasamy had already revealed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would take a decision on party candidate for the Indira Nagar by-poll, for which the notification would be issued on September 19.The AINRC has 14 members in the 30-member assembly. Congress has 7, AIADMK 5, DMK 2 and independent 1. The independent candidate has extended his support to the AINRC party, led by chief minister N Rangasamy.Oil price hike Flayed  AIADMK Puducherry unit secretary, A Anbazhagan, condemned the petrol price hike and asked the UT government to spell out its stand on the present hike which came into effect from Friday.In a statement, he said the present hike would further increase the burden of the people,already reeling under price rise of essential commodities.BJP president SPK Dhamodhar said that the UPA government had increased the petrol prices more than 10 times in its current stint.  He asked the government to roll back on the prices and added that his party would stage agitations if the price hike was not withdrawn.