DMDK to spell out stand before PM meet

The meeting, which was called urgently by DMDK Chief Vijayakant was attended by all the district secretaries of the party along with DMDK Treasurer Premalatha, DMDK Deputy Secretary LK Sudhish and important party functionaries.

The meeting was held for more than 2 hours in which decision on alliance was taken. Other important strategies associated with elections such as election campaign, list of star campaigners, tour of important party functionaries and so on were discussed in detail in the meeting.

Sources, who attended the meeting, said that the party is confident of getting seven seats as demanded by them. “AIADMK is under pressure from the BJP to rope in the DMDK for alliance and the AIADMK has no other option other than to allot seven seats for them,” said a DMDK source.

The expectation in DMDK camp increased after Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam visited Vijayakant’s house to confirm the alliance, but could not as DMDK was firm on their demand. 

With the same outlook, large number of DMDK cadres assembled at the party office with the expectation of announcement of alliance, but they were unofficially informed that the alliance would be officially announced on Wednesday, before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chennai. After confirmation of alliance, Vijayakant will share the stage with Modi, added sources.

In the meantime, there was drama outside the party office as a section of party cadres who did not want the DMDK to align with any of the parties’ crated ruckus with the demand to meet Vijayakant. One the party cadres, Kumaradoss, from Kanniyakumari, said that he was an ardent fan of Vijayakant for 31 years and is a founding member of the party.

“I do not want Captain to form an alliance with any of the parties. Last time the DMDK aligned with the BJP and worked for the success of the party, but the BJP after winning the elections did not give any attention to the party. So, this time they should not align with any party,” said Kumaradoss.