Ruling party may repeat 2016 formula, go with minor allies for Assembly polls

“AIADMK, which has a traditional vote base of 30 to 40 percentage in the state, manged to garner only 18 per cent of votes in 2019 Parliamentary election. The loss of around 12 per cent of its vote can be blamed because of the allies,” political analyst Raveenthran Duraisamy told DT Next.

Following the Lok Sabha elections, though the BJP did not have any disappointment, DMDK faced its first setback after it was denied a Rajya Sabha seat by the ruling party in the state.

But, the AIADMK also did not promise a RS ticket while striking alliance with the Vijayakant’s party.

Though there was no visible outrage in the alliance, the friction continued and it was visible during the recent press meet of its party treasurer Premalatha Vijayakant who she said that the DMDK cadre want their party to go it alone in the Assembly election.

Similarly, BJP too had started its share of duel with AIADMK and a proof of this was the social media clash between the two parties over Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations.

Following the strain in ties with the two major allies, PMK is the only notable partner left in the alliance. Though the PMK, which approximately has five per cent of vote share, is strong in northern parts of the state, the ruling party won’t fully rely on or require its support. AIADMK might contest with minor parties like it did in 2016 assembly elections, said Raveenthran Duraisamy.

Political analysts also feel that the recent statement of DMDK is just to increase its bargain in the alliance. “There is no other choice for DMDK other than to go for alliance in the upcoming election”, said senior journalist and political commentator ‘Tharasu’ Shyam.

However, BJP which had recently increased its pace of party enrollment wants to be a decisive force in the state. “BJP will turn into a major political force in the state in the upcoming assembly election. The party will be the kingmaker in the assembly election”, said Professor R Srinivasan, General Secretary of BJP State Unit.