The DMDK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth, on Sunday announced that it would take a call on pre-poll alliance for the lok Sabha elections at the right time. Addressing a mammoth rally at Ulundurpet, 250 km south of Chennai, Vijayakanth sought party workers’ opinions on going to poll on its own or in alliance with other like-minded parties. But what the nearly 1.5 lakh people told was not distinct and Vijayakanth declared. “You want the DMDK to fight the election alone. But I know all of you will abide by whatever decision I take in the interest of the party. So I’ll announce the party’s decision on the right forum at the right place.”
However, it is almost certain that the DMDK will not join the DMK-led alliance. Premalatha Vijayakanth, who spoke just before Vijayakanth, pointed out that the DMK was responsible for the massive corruption in the 2G spectrum scam and hence there was no possibility of aligning with a corrupt political outfit.
There was speculation that Vijayakanth would declare his support to the BJP-led alliance. Friday saw both Vijayakanth and Premalatha, clad in saffron, worshipping at Tirupathi Balaji Temple. A top BJP functionary had told The Pioneer on Saturday that the DMDK would join the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
Interestingly, the party official who anchored the public show declared that leaders of three political parties have extended their wishes to Vijayakanth for the success of the Ulundurpet meeting.
“Tamil Nadu BJP president Pon Radhaklrishnan, TNCC president BS Gnanadesikan, and MDMK chief Vaiko have extended their best wishes for the success of our party’s rally,” said the anchorperson which was greeted with applause. The DMDK, formed in 2005, had polled 10.3 per cent of the total votes in the 2009 lok Sabha elections which it contested without any alliance.
Sunday also saw the AIADMK and the CPI announcing that they would fight the lok Sabha election together in Tamil Nadu. J Jayalalithaa, general secretary of the AIADMK, announced this after a meeting she had with Ardhendu Bhushan Bardan, former general secretary of the CPI. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jayalalithaa said details like the selection of constituencies and number of seats would be decided later. CPI(M) Prakash Karat will call on Jayalalithaa on Monday for formalising the alliance.