Vijayakanth set to join NDA as talks with DMK fail

CHENNAI: The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), led by actor-turned politician Vijayakanth, is all set to join the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) front in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, state minister Mafoi Pandiyarajan said.

The move comes after the DMDK’s attempts to make an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which has already entered into a prepoll alliance with the Congress and several others, failed.

Pandiyarajan, who is the minister for Tamil official language and Tamil culture, said AIADMK co-ordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam will make a formal announcement within two days.

“We have been talking with the DMDK. Everything has been sorted out in our negotiations. Within one or two days, we will sign the poll pact. Our coordinator and deputy chief minister will make the formal announcement,” said Pandiyarajan.

After a day-long office-bearers’ meeting, Vijayakanth on Friday decided to enter into a pre-poll alliance with the AIADMK, a DMDK functionary said. The AIADMK had on February 19 struck an alliance with the BJP and Ramadoss’ Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).

“Our leader has heard our opinions regarding the alliance. Since many of our party workers expressed the opinion that we must join hands with AIADMKBJP front, Vijayakanth has agreed to that,” said the DMDK functionary speaking on the condition of anonymity.

DMK leaders claimed they were unable to meet the demands of the DMDK.

“We already have too many partners...,” said a DMK member of Parliament.

“Therefore we are not in a position to sacrifice more numbers of seats for DMDK. We were ready to offer a maximum of four seats. However, they have asked for seven seats and assurance for one Rajya Sabha seat. So, we did not proceed with the alliance talks,” the DMK leader added.