DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, keen on knitting together a mega alliance against the AIADMK, is ready to meet Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko as a first step towards giving shape to his plan.
While the MDMK side expects the meeting to take place at the wedding of the daughter of the former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, at Mamallapuram, Mr. Stalin said he would be more than happy to meet Mr. Vaiko anywhere. “Of course, the wedding provides an opportunity for meeting various leaders. But he can always meet Mr. Vaiko anywhere,” sources said.
On the other hand, the MDMK leader said he was thankful to Mr. Stalin for his “kind words” about him in a recent television interview. Mr. Vaiko told The Hindu that as leaders who respected political etiquette, they would have no problem meeting each other.
Asked about Mr. Stalin hinting at a political realignment before the Assembly polls in the interview, Mr. Vaiko said elections were 18 months away and it would be “premature” to talk about electoral pacts at the moment.
Even though the MDMK is a part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, Mr. Vaiko is not able to maintain with the BJP the kind of rapport that he had with veteran leaders A.B. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. His chances of joining the AIADMK alliance also look bleak as the ruling party in Tamil Nadu never misses an opportunity to criticise him.
Even on Monday, Namathu MGR , the AIADMK mouthpiece, ridiculed him saying he was headed yet again for ‘Anna Arivayalam,’ DMK headquarters.
