Express News Service By

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) got a shot in arm in Thoothukudi with the Roman Catholic (RC) Fathers and fishermen community from across the district decided to extend support to the three coastal leaders, Pushparayan, Jesuraj and S P Udayakumar, contesting on AAP ticket.

A decision to this effect was taken at an indoor meeting, presided by Father William Santhanam, held here on Monday in which 26 Fathers attached to various churches, in which members of Fishermen United Front (Meenavar Iyikiya Munnani) also participated.

The meeting also decided to campaign among the fishermen community for the Aam Admi Party candidates, Pushparayan, Jesuraj and S P Udayakumar and garner votes of the coastal community.

At the last week meeting, the church members discussed various issues and sorted out the differences, said Subash Fernando, from Fishermen United Front.

The main reason for the fishermen population throwing their weight behind the Aam Admi Party trio was that they stood solid in the struggle against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), Subash said.

As there were more than 1.75 lakhs votes of fishermen in the coastal Thoothukudi, Pushparayan’s prospects were bright in this Lok Sabha constituency, opined Subash and added that his association was negotiating with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to muster its support.

If the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) responded positively that would consolidate the Muslim votes thus increasing the chances for the Aam Admi Party candidate in Thoothukudi.

When asked about the possible arrests of the trio when they come out of Idinthakarai, he said that the police was unlikely to arrest them as such a move might backfire on the cops. He also said that the trio would file their nominations on March 29.

In case, if they were prevented from doing so, alternate arrangements had been made and fishermen leaders would contest from the constituency.

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