Once Potential Suitors, Parties Now Wary of DMDK
MADURAI: From wooing it desperately till a little while ago, all the potential suitors are now wary of the DMDK, suspicious as they are that Vijayakant may have made a secret deal with the BJP.
The four-party People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA), the virtual third front in the State that was taking all efforts to bring the DMDK into their fold, have not made any open moves to invite him despite Vijayakant making clear that he is not going to align with the DMK as widely speculated.
Speaking to Express, sources in the constituent parties of the alliance said the PWA has made it clear that they would have no truck with five parties – AIADMK, DMK, Congress, BJP and the PMK. However, during her speech addressing women cadre in Chennai recently, Vijayakant’s wife and women’s wing leader Premalatha attacked the regional outfits while sparing the two national parties. With the Congress making its alliance choices clear well in advance, the PWA leaders suspect that DMDK could have made some arrangement with its ally during the last Lok Sabha election, the BJP.
A senior MDMK leader admitted that the party leadership has concerns about Vijayakant joining hands with the BJP, which is reportedly ready to announce him as the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate. Having broken his alliance with the BJP after contesting the last parliamentary election as part of the NDA, MDMK general secretary Vaiko is not yet ready join an alliance with the Centre-ruling party yet again.
The BJP, meanwhile, is hopeful of striking a deal with Vijayakant and his party, said its leaders.
Drive for cent pc polling
Erode: Students of the Punjai Puliampatti Panchayat Union School sat in the school playground on the model of the polling stamp used in the past to encourage 100 percent polling on May 16. They also carries placards with slogans like ‘Vote for Tamil Nadu’ and raised slogans for full polling. The programme was arranged by Vidiyal, an NGO. Headmaster Muthu and teachers.
GPS Trackers help officials
Erode: With the GPS trackers on every car, government staff, who were deputed election duties, need to be alert all the time. Some even regret accepting election duty. “We regret accepting election duty this time, especially when summer heat is at its peak,” said an official, who requested to remain anonymous. A source said there will be no leeway for downtime for vigilance officers.