Treat us on a par with PMK, DMDK tells AIADMK-BJP front

Talks hit a roadblock, with Vijayakant pitching for seats in double digits

CHENNAI:TAMILNADU:13/08/2015:DMDK leader Vijayakant with his Premalatha Vijayakant Sit Fasting prohibition of liquor in State at The party head office in Koyambedu on Thursday photo : M_PRABHU சென்னை: தமிழ்நாடு: 13-08-02015: சென்னை கோயம்பேட்டில் உள்ள தேமுதிக தலைமை அலுவலகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற உண்ணாவிரதப் போராட்டத்தில் கலந்து கொண்ட கட்சித் தலைவர் விஜயகாந்த். படம். ம.பிரபு

The seat-sharing negotiations between the AIADMK-BJP front and the DMDK has hit a roadblock, with the latter insisting that it should be treated “at least” on a par with the PMK, which has been allotted seven Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat.

Senior DMDK leaders on Wednesday said party general secretary Vijayakant was not willing to settle for anything less than the number of seats offered to the PMK.

‘Better poll partner’

Besides, the DMDK was “extremely unhappy” that the AIADMK had finalised poll pacts with the BJP and the PMK before formally sitting down for talks with it. “Captain (Vijayakant) has asked for seats in double digits, pitching for not less than 9 Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat. The AIADMK has been tactfully planting stories that the DMDK will get only three or four Lok Sabha seats. This is unacceptable to us,” said a party leader, who did not wish to be named.

He contended that the DMDK would be a much better alliance partner for the AIADMK and the BJP. “The DMDK has polled votes throughout Tamil Nadu. The PMK is strong only in northern Tamil Nadu. So, when the PMK could be given seven Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha seat, the DMDK deserves to be treated on a par with, if not better than, the PMK,” said the party leader.

“They cannot give the PMK everything they asked for and then force us to accept what they have in mind [for us],” he argued.

Problems with PMK

The party has had its share of woes with the PMK, with which it had tied up along with the BJP and the MDMK in the 2014 Parliamentary polls.

In an interview with The Hindu in November last year, DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakant accused PMK founder S. Ramadoss of sabotaging the 2014 alliance.

“[PMK leader] Anbumani Ramadoss became an MP because of us. More than one lakh votes polled by Mr. Ramadoss were the DMDK’s votes. However, after voting in the elections in a constituency where a DMDK candidate was contesting, Mr. Ramadoss said he voted for NOTA. So, the alliance partners weren’t true to the alliance,” she had said.