The DMDK faction, led by propaganda secretary and MLA V.C. Chandhirakumar and two other MLAs S.R. Parthipan and C.H. Sekar, launched the Makkal Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (MDMDK) on Sunday. A total of 10 district secretaries, who were also expelled from the DMDK, attended the meeting.
“It is not a political outfit but a movement seeking to remove the anti-people AIADMK regime and defeat MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who is conducting the People’s Welfare Front like the AIADMK’s B team,” said Mr. Chandhirakumar.
He said the movement was neither interested in breaking the DMDK or claiming the party symbol.
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On whether the MDMDK would align with the DMK in the Assembly elections, he said even though the new outfit had not been started with the objective of joining the DMK-led front, the Dravidian major was not its rival. “We are ready to work with the DMK if party leader M. Karunanidhi and treasurer M.K. Stalin invite us,” he said. “But, till this hour, we have not received any call from the DMK,” he added.
Addressing a meeting with a portrait of DMDK founder Vijayakant in the backdrop, Mr. Chandhirakumar said he and other office-bearers would dissolve the outfit and quit politics permanently if Mr. Vijayakant came forward to align with the DMK. Though Mr. Chandhirakumar and others held the DMDK founder’s wife Premalatha and MDMK leader Vaiko responsible for the present state of affairs, they also blamed Mr. Vijayakant for failing to lead the DMDK in the right direction.
Mr. Parthipan said that on March 23 when the DMDK joined hands with the PWF, a total of 15 MLAs and district secretaries met secretly and 12 of them spoke in derogatory terms against Mr. Vijayakant.
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“They are now with Mr. Vijayakant and we have the recordings of their speech. But, we will not stoop to the level of making their speech public,” he said. Mr. Sekar said when he and other MLAs favoured an alliance with the DMK, Ms. Premalatha vetoed their argument saying that the DMDK was launched to see Mr. Vijayakant sitting in the CM’s chair and not to elect a few MLAs.
‘More will join outfit’
Mr. Chandhirakumar said more MLAs and district secretaries would join their outfit. “We will function effectively till the elections. The future course of action will be decided after the election,” he said.
‘Ready to work with the DMK if Karunanidhi and Stalin invite us’