Spurned by Captain, MK Shuts Poll Alliance Door

DMK president M Karunanidhi shut the doors on his stables, saying there would be no more room for any other parties in the DMK-led alliance.
Spurned by Captain, MK Shuts Poll Alliance Door

Coming to terms with the fact that the DMDK would not be lending support to his party’s cause in the Lok Sabha polls, DMK president M Karunanidhi on Monday shut the doors on his stables, saying there would be no more room for any other parties in the DMK-led alliance. He also announced that his party would release its Lok Sabha manifesto and seat sharing arrangements in two days.

“There doesn’t seem to be room for any more allies,” was Karunanidhi’s simple declaration while speaking to reporters after completing the interviews of applicants for the DMK ticket in the coming polls.

This brings to a close his repeated hints to the DMDK that he would be happy if they joined his alliance, given that his party is gearing up to face the polls with not one substantial ally.

Sources in the DMK told Express that they had not made any official contact with the DMDK, but had made overtures to DMDK chief Vijayakant’s confidants. One of these might have been a meeting between Vijayakant and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, when the Dalit leader appealed to the actor-turned-politician to cast his die with the DMK. However, the DMDK now seems set to formally announce a tie-up with the BJP after dallying with the Congress in between.

“We did not approach them. That would not have been right. We are the senior party, and are the ones leading the alliance. They should have been the ones approaching us,” a senior DMK functionary told Express. “Had we had come together, we would have won at about 25 of the 40 seats. This is a lost opportunity, more for the DMDK than the DMK,” he added.

The DMK-led front now includes the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and Puthiya Tamilagam.

The DMK in any case has its hands full. It is lining up to release its manifesto in two days. The party is also expected to announce its seat sharing agreements with allies soon with sources suggesting they are close to clinching the pacts. The DMK is, however, more likely to release its manifesto before revealing the modalities of its alliance.

Karunanidhi also said his party would come out with its list of candidates after due consideration, but sidestepped questions over whether his list would feature new faces like the AIADMK’s list.

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The New Indian Express
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