Though assembling a strong alliance against the ruling AIADMK in the next Lok Sabha polls tops the DMK’s agenda, the party’s district secretaries differ with one another on the composition of the alliance in their districts.
At a meeting of district secretaries convened by party leader M. Karunanidhi to elicit views on the DMK’s poll strategy on Friday, some favoured an alliance with the Congress, but others rated the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakant over the national party.
Enquiries in party circles revealed that the unanimous opinion was that having the Congress alone on board was not adequate to take on the AIADMK, even though the national party normally fared slightly better in Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.
The districts secretaries favoured a broad alliance, including the DMDK, even though the party had not succeeded in its bid to get close to the actor-turned-politician.
A force to reckon with
At the meeting, party satraps from the northern districts said it was the DMDK that was a force to reckon with and not the Congress. “They informed the high command that the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has become a divided house as far as Cuddalore district is concerned as a substantial number of PMK men have switched their loyalty to a splinter group formed by former MLA T. Velmurugan,” said a senior DMK leader.
District secretaries from the west and southern parts of Tamil Nadu also wanted an alliance with both the Congress and the DMDK. But district secretaries in the deep south drew attention to the popular discontentment there over the Congress government’s failure to stop attacks on fishermen.
“The meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of the situation. We were also informed about the strength of the Communist parties in some pockets, including in Dindigul,” said the DMK leader.
However, leaders from the Kongu belt in the west were of the opinion that the DMK should steer clear of caste outfits in the Lok Sabha polls as their lack of efficacy had been proved in the 2011 Assembly polls.
Even in Chennai, party sources say, it was pointed out that the DMDK had polled substantial votes and that an alliance with the party would work well for the DMK.
Political parties such as Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), the political wing of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) and Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) led by Krishnasamy are likely to sail along with the DMK as they voted for DMK candidate Kanimozhi in the Rajya Sabha polls. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) is already with the DMK.
