It appears that DMDK leader Vijayakant was expecting the PMK to exit the alliance headed by the BJP in Tamil Nadu of which his party is also a constituent. Giving an indication of this, Vijayakant who undertook a whirlwind tour of the western districts of Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Salem on Sunday, appealed to voters here to vote for the BJP-led alliance without mentioning the name of the candidate in Dharmapuri.
While it was known that the PMK was allotted the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency and had fielded Anbumani Ramadoss there, Vijayakant cryptically told the assembled crowd, “The BJP will name the candidate in Dharmapuri shortly. I will come here once again here after the BJP declares the candidates’ name.”
Incidentally, the DMDK and PMK have never shared a good equation. The PMK has been campaigning against film actors taking to politics and was particularly cut up with Vijayakant as he had managed to wean away some Vanniyar youth in the northern districts.