PANAJI: The Kerala Chief Minister, Mr Oomen Chandy, on Tuesday, said that the country was fighting against three ills namely corruption, communalism and terrorism affecting the Indian society. Mr Chandy expressed confidence that the Union government led by Dr Manmohan Singh and guided by Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, would tackle these issues on war footing.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Chandy, while replying to a question on what was his opinion on corruption, said: "We are doing our best to fight these three problems and we are sure that we will overcome them," he said adding that in a democratic set-up confidence of the people was the strength of the government and that Congress was doing everything to overcome the ills.

On the issue of distribution of tickets by the party to families of Congressmen, Mr Chandy said the party has selected its candidates not on the basis of their link with the families but using its own parameters like winnability, merit and performance and also taking into confidence the local leaders.

Mr Chandy, who was here to campaign for party candidates for the election, expressed confidence that Congress-NCP alliance would get 2/3rd majority in March 3 general elections to the state on its development performance and stability of the government for the last five years. He also said that the national political situation was in favour of the party.

The Kerala Chief Minister also told reporters that he met people of his state working or settled outside their home state to know about their views on the performance of his government back home. He also said that he appealed to them to vote for Congress.

Replying to a question on the allegations made by PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao, against the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, the AICC secretary, Mr P Sudhakar Reddy said that he had only read about it in news report and that the same would be probed thoroughly.

On the criticism of the opposition BJP about Congress promoting dynastic rule, Mr Reddy, said: "We are in the court of people with tickets to individuals and it is upto them to decide the candidates’ fate." He also said that poll results would reveal whether party was right in its decision in giving tickets to the family members of its leaders
or not.