As an alliance between the BJP and the DMDK, led by actor Vijayakant, is more or less ruled out, the Congress has stepped in to capitalise on the situation and is holding parleys with the DMDK.
Highly placed Congress sources said the Delhi leadership had established contact with the DMDK leaders. A few senior Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu are also in touch with the actor-turned-politician.
“The political scenario in the State is likely to head for unexpected turn of events as there are also efforts to persuade the DMK to reconsider its position with regard to an alliance with the Congress,” said a senior Congress leader, who is part of the effort to put together a new front.
He said the meeting between Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan, a strong critic of the Congress and its policies towards the Sri Lankan Tamils, and AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi assumed significance in the present context.
“Though the meeting between the two was arranged primarily to discuss issues including Sri Lankan Tamils and the attack on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, it veered into the political situation. When Mr. Thirumavalavan stressed the need for keeping together secular parties, Mr. Gandhi pointed out the reluctance of the DMK to join the Congress,” said a VCK leader.
In fact in the beginning it was the DMK that tried to rope in the DMDK into its alliance.
But its efforts were not reciprocated. At one stage the DMK gave up its moves. Now the Congress, left with no friends in the State is wooing the DMDK.
