Vijayakant’s DMDK to decide on poll alliance at key meet today

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) is expected to take a final call on continuing its present alliance with the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu at a meeting on Sunday. A decision evaded its meeting on Saturday.  

Sources said party chief Vijayakant would take a decision after evaluating all aspects, including the displeasure of some functionaries over the alliance with the Pattali Makkat Katchi (PMK). 

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The party would practically have two choices now: to continue the alliance and be satisfied with the seats allotted by the AIADMK or contest alone. The prospect of contesting alone apparently does not have the approval of a large section of the party. 

Parthasarathy, former party MLA, said the meeting had discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both the options. “In the present alliance, the PMK is not cooperating. While we are supporting the AIADMK government and acting according to alliance dharma, the PMK, most of the time, is not behaving like an alliance party,” he said.

It is to be noted that though the DMDK is said to be attracting the votes of the Naidu community, it also eats into Vanniyar votes in the northern parts of the state. 

“In the 2014 elections, our candidates like L.K. Sudhish, who contested from Salem, and C.R. Jayasankar, from Cuddalore, were not given the much-needed support by PMK district functionaries such as Arul and R. Govindasamy, respectively. Similar incidents were reported in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections too,” he said.  

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In the past couple of days, party treasurer Premalatha Vijayakant had criticised AIADMK co-coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. She said EPS was not elected by the people but only by the MLAs. She also extended her support to V.K. Sasikala, former Jayalalithaa aide who was recently released from a Bengaluru jail.

“Sasikala must return to politics. As a woman, I always extend my support to her. She was with former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and knows things better,” she said.

The party is seeking 41 of the 234 Assembly seats in the upcoming elections. In 2019, it played hardball till the last minute and joined hands with the AIADMK. They were given four seats but all came to a nought. In 2014, the party allied with the BJP-led NDA and was given 14 seats, higher than other allies like the PMK and the MDMK.

In the 2016 Assembly elections, the party joined the People’s Welfare Alliance, a third front, and contested in 104 seats. But it failed to get even a single seat. In 2011, they were given 41 seats and won in 29. 

The reports from the ground indicate that the cadres are losing hope as party chief Vijayakant’s health is in bad shape and he has not been taking part actively in party functions. Party functionaries have been moving to other parties, mostly the DMK. Interestingly, in 2016, the party had removed some of its functionaries for seeking an alliance with the DMK.