With just three days left for nominations to close, actor Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the CPI(M) agreed on Monday to fight the local body elections together. The CPI's position was not clear as the party resumed seat-sharing talks with the AIADMK, following an invitation from the ruling party.
Originally, the three parties were scheduled to formally announce a joint alliance on Monday; however, with the CPI resuming talks with the AIADMK, and set to discuss the issue further in the state executive council meeting on Tuesday, the CPI(M) leaders called on Mr Vijayakant and decided to go ahead with their plans.
Negotiations to finalise seat-sharing are continuing. CPI(M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said the lists of candidates announced by the two parties were subject to change. “It is only a question of give and take. Like-minded parties can easily sort out the issues among themselves,” he said, on being reminded that that both parties had already released their lists.
However, the parties did not discuss the by-election to the Tiruchi (West) Assembly constituency. Explaining why the CPI(M) was snapping ties with the AIADMK, Mr Ramakrishnan said the ruling party made an offer that did not do justice to his party. “It is the attitude of the AIADMK leadership that has led to this. The AIADMK released the list of candidates while talks were on. We objected to the release of the list before completing negotiations as it would create confusion in the party rank and file,” Mr Ramakrishnan said.
Asked why the CPI had changed its mind after agreeing to be a part of the efforts to forge a fresh alliance, Mr Ramakrishnan said that even on Sunday the three parties had wanted to contest together. “We hope the CPI will join us. We will make all efforts to bring them in,” he said and added that the CPI(M) would continue efforts to rope in more parties to create a non-AIADMK, non-DMK, non-Congress and non-BJP grouping in Tamil Nadu politics.
