MADURAI: Has Vijayakant finally made up his mind on the alliance matters? Even as DMK president M Karunanidhi reiterated his appeal to the founder-leader of the DMDK, sources told Express that the 'third front', the People's Welfare Alliance, is involved in discussions with the party and is hopeful of a breakthrough before long.
The DMDK has emerged as the most sought after smaller party, with DMK, BJP and the four-party PWA actively wooing it to join them ahead of the ensuing assembly polls. On Monday night, PWA convenor and MDMK general secretary Vaiko and others discussed the matter with DMDK women's leader and Vijayakant's wife, Premalatha, one of the most influential voices within the party, said sources.
Though he refused to divulge any detail about the meeting, the general secretary of PWA-constituent Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK), D Ravi Kumar admitted that talks were on, adding that it was progressing smoothly. “If DMDK joins the alliance, the existing partners are willing to consider its demands,” he told Express. Indicating that a deal might be struck before late, Ravi Kumar repeated CPI State secretary R Mutharasan's comment that the PWA will have the fruit and the milk – paraphrasing a comment that Karunanidhi made earlier on roping in the DMDK.
Meanwhile, MDMK sources said Vaiko met Premalatha in Chennai last night. She reportedly demanded chief minister post for Vijayakant and a substantial number of the total 234 seats. Sources said Vaiko said he would discuss the matter with the rest of the leaders of PWA and return to the table soon.
A few among the PWA members believe Vijayakant might announce the deal on Wednesday – an auspicious day celebrated as 'Panguni Uthiram’. If this happens, Premalatha is likely to start her campaign from the coastal Thoothukudi on Saturday, sources claimed.
DMDK leaders are tightlipped about the next move, with sources maintaining that Vijayakant would announce the decision soon.
In what is seen as an indication that the BJP has lost hopes on bring around the DMDK, the party's State unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan told the media that that they have had enough talks by now. The DMDK was welcome to join if it wished so, but the BJP will go ahead regardless of the decision it takes, she said in Chennai today. BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Chennai on Wednesday for a private function, but there is no plan to meet Vijayakant as of now, said sources from both BJP and DMDK.
In the AIADMK camp, in the meantime, rumours are rife that an important announcement on alliance matters might come on Wednesday. The party leadership might hold talks with the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Congress splinter launched by GK Vasan, tomorrow, sources said.