The impending meeting between senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and DMK president M Karunanidhi this month might help revive the ties between the old allies but is unlikely to immediately lead to seat-sharing talks for the coming Assembly elections. The Dravidian party is not keen on finalising seats without hearing from the DMDK leader Vijayakant on its open invitation to forge an alliance.
“We are holding talks with Vijayakant through friendly channels. But we are not able to move forward as Mr. Vijayakant is yet to commit himself for an alliance with the DMK,” said a senior DMK leader who is in the loop on the electoral ties.
Even though the DMK has succeeded in creating an impression that the DMDK would benefit more from an alliance involving the two parties, Mr. Vijayakant still seems to be exploring other options, particularly a tie-up with the BJP.
“The visit of Ghulam Nabi Azad will revive our ties snapped in 2013. But we can start seat-sharing talks with the Congress only after getting a clear idea about who are going be part of our alliance,” said the DMK leader.
In the 2011 Assembly elections, the Congress took advantage of the DMK leadership’s desperation to retain an alliance and stay in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, and extracted 63 seats. The changed circumstances and the revival of Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) by former Union Minister G.K. Vasan have placed the party at a disadvantage and it may not be able to dictate terms to the DMK now.
“The Congress will be with us. But the presence of the DMDK in our fold will give the much-needed psychological boost to our party leaders and cadres, besides an edge over others even though the DMDK’s vote bank has eroded over the years. The DMDK leaders are also well aware that an alliance with the DMK is equally needed in their interest. A defeat in the election could even lead to an existential crisis for the DMDK,” contended a DMK district secretary.
If it chooses to turn down the DMK’s invitation, the DMDK would be left to experiment with the People’s Welfare Front or tie up with the BJP. It has already burnt its bridge with the ruling AIADMK, its ally in 2011.
The DMK is not keen on tying up with the BJP. “If we allow the BJP to sail with us, we will play into the hands of others who may use the secular card and join the AIADMK under the pretext of checkmating the BJP. Moreover, there will be no Modi wave in the Assembly polls,” said the DMK district secretary.
DMK not keen
on finalising
seats without hearing from Vijayakant
