A few candidates of the DMDK who contested the Lok Sabha elections, seem to have taken up the issue of non-cooperation from alliance partners during the campaign, at the one-on-one meetings they had with party chief Vijayakant here on Wednesday.
Sources in the party told The Hindu that Mr. Vijayakant took the feedback from the candidates individually.
In his initial address, Mr. Vijayakant apparently told the audience that all measures to strengthen the party would be taken “boldly” henceforth.
He asked the candidates to brief him about the difficulties they faced without any fear or inhibitions.
“Some candidates felt the hard work put in by DMDK workers for the alliance was not reciprocated by some allies in constituencies where they contested. The candidates also apprised the founder about issues within the DMDK, which he listened to very carefully,” a senior leader said. The alliance partners alluded to was mainly the PMK.
The functionary said that Mr. Vijayakant told a few of the candidates that non-cooperation on the part of allies could not be the lone reason for the party not winning any of the constituencies.
The meeting also passed several resolutions, including one urging the Centre and the State to initiate measures to put an end to attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. The party also condemned the Election Commission's inaction on the alleged distribution of cash to voters, days before the polling. While Vijayakant’s brother-in-law L.K. Sudeesh attended the meeting, his wife Premalatha did not.
