DMK in a tight spot, banks on PMK votes

Puthiya Tamizhagam decides to back Kanimozhi

June 21, 2013 04:17 am | Updated November 16, 2021 08:39 pm IST - CHENNAI:

As the five-member Congress is yet to indicate its stand on the Rajya Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, the three votes of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) are likely to be crucial in the elections slated for June 27.

The PMK has convened its high-level executive committee meeting on Friday, when it is expected to make a final decision.

The DMK finds itself in a tight spot after the Congress leadership responded coldly to the request for support, is banking heavily on the PMK support.

Meanwhile, DMK candidate Kanimozhi managed to raise her tally to 27 after Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) leader Krishnasamy, one of two MLAs of his party, announced his support to her.

DMDK candidate A.R. Elangovan has 22 votes and he will be placed on a par with Ms Kanimozhi if the Congress agrees to support him. In the scenario, the three votes of the PMK can change the fortunes of Ms. Kanimozhi.

Though the DMK and the PMK are no longer on talking terms after PMK founder S. Ramadoss ran a campaign holding the Dravidian parties responsible for all the ills afflicting Tamil Nadu. He had declared he would never have an alliance with either of the Dravidian parties.

But the DMK, forgetting the bitter campaign for a moment, has approached PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss for support, as Dr. Ramadoss is recuperating from a cardiac bypass surgery.

“PMK was part of our alliance in the 2011 elections and we have supported Mr. Anbumani’s candidature to the Rajya Sabha. The party will gain nothing by abstaining from the elections. Instead it may help the DMDK, which is an arch-rival of the PMK,” a senior DMK leader said. The feeling among the PMK leaders was that supporting the DMK was an emotional issue.

“The media never said any word about the CPI seeking the AIADMK’s support, though the Left parties are highly critical of AIADMK government’s policies. But if we extend support to the DMK, you will accuse us of making a U-turn after the campaign against Dravidian politics. Anyway tomorrow’s meeting will finalise everything,” a PMK leader said.

Earlier in the day, PT leader Dr. K. Krishnasamy said he decided to support Ms. Kanimozhi as the AIADMK and the CPI candidates had adequate numbers. “We feel her prospects are bright. So, we did not want to waste our votes,” he said.

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