With the DMK and DMDK tied down for the sixth seat from the State to Rajya Sabha, hectic parleys and the hunt for support from the Congress and other minor parties continued on Tuesday.
While the DMK has fielded party chief M Karunanidhi’s daguhter Kanimozhi, the DMDK — led by Vijayakanth — has nominated its treasurer A R Elangovan, a greenhorn, making the tussle more interesting.
Even as the DMK, with 23 legislators, has been sporting a confident face, the DMDK, having an effective strength of 22 MLAs, too appears to be making serious efforts to secure the necessary votes. A delegation of five MLAs from the DMDK called on TNCC president K Gnanadesikan and formally requested the support of the party.
Later, talking to reporters, Gnanadesikan said already the DMDK leaders had spoken to the Congress and on Tuesday, they formally handed over a letter given by DMDK president Vijaykant seeking the support of the party. Responding to a query, he said the DMK too had sought the TNCC’s support.
Requests of both the parties would be conveyed to the Congress high command and a final decision would be taken by the leadership, he maintained. The DMK is trying its best to garner the support of the Congress and the party believes that it would succeed in getting it. The Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), a Muslim outfit, and the Dalit party, Puthiya Thamizhagam, are yet to announce their stand on the elections.
A leader of MMK said the AIADMK, CPI and DMDK have already sought their support for the Rajya Sabha elections. A decision would be taken within a day or two, he added. The Puthiya Thamizhagam leaders could not be contacted.
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer A M P Jamaludeen announced that the eight nominations filed by the AIADMK, DMK and DMDK are in form and that they were accepted while the nominations of five independents have been rejected.
After the withdrawal of nomination by Thangamuthu, there will be seven candidates in the fray. The last date for withdrawal of nomination is June 20.
DMK candidate Kanimozhi and DMDK candidate AR Elangovan who came to Secretariat on Tuesday during the scrutiny of the nominations, expressed confidence that they would be winning the elections.