NEW DELHI: A guessing game is what seems to be holding up an alliance-making for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, with DMDK chief Vijayakant appearing to be a swing factor. While he’s weighing his options with the BJP, the DMK is weighing options with him and the Congress is none too enthused in the process.
Faced with a formidable opponent in Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and her AIADMK party, sources say that the DMK is in no hurry to drop anchor. It would rather be on the float to first figure out which way Vijayakant goes in the alliance game. The latter, it seems, is in talks with the BJP—both at local and central levels.
One of the reasons why Karunanidhi is more focused on DMDK chief rather than the Congress is an internal assessment that has found that among the smaller caste-based parties, Vijayakant retains traction. Sources add, in the current situation DMK needs a broad-based alliance in the face-off with AIADMK.
It is being said that the DMK is not averse to an understanding with the BJP, if Vijayakant can swing it for him, despite doubts about how such a tie-up will be perceived by the State’s 18 per cent minority vote.
For the BJP, it could be the last option, given its stand vis-à-vis DMK on the 2G case and it is the latter’s rather insignificant presence in Parliament. The possibility of a DMK-DMDK-BJP tie-up despite speculation, appears far-fetched. Also since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a reasonably good working relationship with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, it is unlikely that he would want to jeopardise that. BJP is not unwilling to accommodate Vijayakant, sources close to a Union minister said. Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan, however, hints that BJP would rather go it alone. Under the circumstances, the Congress has little option but to wait and watch.
Unless, the DMK-DMDK equation reaches some kind of solution, Karunanidhi is in no position to offer seats to the grand old party, a Congress leader from Tamil Nadu admitted.
In any case, the final decision would be taken by the Congress high command, which means Sonia Gandhi in consultation with the Antony Committee, which decides such issues. And, both are famous for maintaining status quo and keeping decisions pending.
Much would also depend on how BJP chief Amit Shah’s next visit to the State pans out. He is expected to attend BJP State unit chief Tamilisai Soundarajan’s son’s wedding on February 17, when he would meet a cross section of leaders in Tamil Nadu politics.