CHENNAI: DMDK leader Vijayakant’s latest interview to a Tamil magazine virtually closing alliance options with the DMK, has left the party in dire straits at a time when it is desperately in need of a partner to take on the AIADMK in the 2016 Assembly elections.
The DMK has already burnt bridges with MDMK leader Vaiko who had openly alleged that the former was trying to split his party, while it humiliated Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan during the seat-sharing negotiations in the 2014 Parliament elections.
The Left parties too are strongly opposing the DMK, while the PMK has announced its own Chief Ministerial candidate. The Congress too is demanding a share of power, while the Tamil Maanila Congress is indecisive. With none of the parties showing any inclination to join hands with the DMK, the party is hard pressed to rework its alliance strategy, which may include opening doors for a coalition government.
In his interview, Vijayakant had asserted that he would not have ties with the DMK and would sacrifice anything to defeat both the DMK and AIADMK. To a specific question if his refusal to align with the DMK could lead to an AIADMK victory again, he had said that the two parties, AIADMK and DMK, were rotating power between themselves due to such calculations and added that the same would not work now as people were opposed to both. Stalin had already rejected demands for a coalition government and now the party could be forced to rethink its strategy. It is not known if the other parties would accept Stalin’s leadership, even if he offered to share power with allies.
However, political analyst and journalist Govi Lenin said it was too early to assume that the options for the DMK were closed. “At the moment, the DMK may not agree for a coalition government or a high number of seats for the DMDK. The party wants to contest atleast 150 seats and can leave only the rest to others. Vijayakant’s word cannot be considered as final as he has formed alliance with other parties at the eleventh hour. His assertion not to align with the DMK could also be a bargain tactic to pressure the party for a coalition government,” he said.
A major cause for concern in the DMDK circles is if its votes would be transferable to the DMK, since the core vote bank of Vijayakant’s supporters has AIADMK leanings.
In the 2006 Assembly elections and 2009 Parliament polls, Vijayakant, who was hailed as ‘black MGR’ by his supporters, split the anti-DMK votes resulting in DMK’s win. But an alliance by the DMDK with AIADMK could be considered a natural one, since both parties have voters united in their appreciation for MGR. However, most of Vijayakant’s supporters may not be pleased with a DMK alliance.