DMDK joins AIADMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, gets four seats

Hours within the Election Commission (EC) declaring the poll schedule for the general elections, the AIADMK and the DMDK signed seat-sharing pact here at a city hotel. According to the deal, DMDK has been allotted four seats. The agreement was signed by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on behalf of the ruling party and Vijayakant on behalf of the DMDK. The latter has also agreed to back the AIADMK in the bypolls that are scheduled to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

Speculation was rife that the DMDK wanted to be treated on par with the PMK that got allotted six Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. But it had to contend with four seats after its last-minute overtures to the DMK got rejected. After the signing the pact, a joint press conference was addressed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami , O Panneerselvam and Premalatha Vijayakant. LK Sudeesh too was present at the press conference. “A good decision has been taken to contest the upcoming polls together. An alliance has been struck between the AIADMK and the DMDK for the upcoming polls”, said Deputy CM O Panneerselvam.

Vijayakant’s wife and DMDK treasurer Premalatha said, “The AIADMK and DMDK alliance was a natural one and this alliance would win all 40 seats”.

Though Vijayakant was present at the press conference, it was Premalatha who fielded questions from the media.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are scheduled to go polls in a single phase on April 18.