With the prospects of forming a major front dipping by the day, the DMK now seems to be staring down the probability of being forced to face the Lok Sabha elections without any significant players in its fold.
Though party leaders say it is too early to predict alliance combinations, DMK chief M Karunanidhi is expected to ask functionaries at the general council meet, slated for Sunday, to prepare for the eventuality of going it alone, given the developments in the past week.
While the party, both in New Delhi and Chennai, had been sending feelers in all directions, it received a jolt when the BJP virtually ruled out an alliance with it at a press conference here last week.
The saffron party made it clear that it was in the process of forming a third front excluding the DMK and the AIADMK.
Though the Congress has been a silent spectator, sources in the DMK said most leaders in its ranks, including party treasurer M K Stalin, were against having any truck with its former ally. “The General Council meeting is all set to be a vote on whether Congress should be entertained. Most district secretaries, apart form a few in the south, are against it,” said a senior functionary.
Meanwhile, senior leaders in the BJP told Express that a deal with Vaiko’s MDMK has been virtually sealed. The party is continuing its talks with the DMDK and the PMK.
“Vaiko and our president Rajnath Singh met in Delhi last week. The MDMK is certainly with us. Even today (Saturday), we have met DMDK leaders. Though they are non-committal, the very fact that they are constantly in touch tells you their orientation. There will be a breakthrough soon,” the leader argued.
The source added that PMK too has begun deliberations with it.
This is one of the reasons why the Vanniyar party has halted releasing its candidates’ list, a process it began in October.
Also, the leader said Vaiko was not for entertaining the DMK in a BJP-led front and had made it clear that he would move out if steps in that direction are initiated. Moreover, the BJP high command feels an agreement with the DMK will crash its poll campaign that is expected to be centered around the corruption scandals of the UPA.
The Congress though is playing a wait-and-watch game. “The Congress is vital for any front to put up a good show in Tamil Nadu. By January, you will see more allies coming our way. It’s too early now,” said a newly-elected executive member of the TNCC, who added that the party too was in talks with the DMDK.