|
Tamil Nadu : DPA gets a jolt |
 |
The MDMK has walked out of the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu and joined the rival camp, AIADMK of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. MDMK chief Vaiko said that despite the electoral ties with Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK, his party would continue to remain part and parcel of the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre and would continue to extend issue-based support to the Manmohan Singh Government from outside. He said the decision will be conveyed to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the appropriate time.
In a day of dramatic developments, Vaiko called on AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence in Chennai on Saturday and together they announced that the MDMK would contest 35 seats in the May 8 Assembly elections.
In a brief interaction with the media, the two leaders described the alliance as “formidable” and said they were confident it would sweep the polls. They said activists of the two parties would work wholeheartedly for each other’s victory.
Vaiko explained the circumstances that led to the exit of the MDMK from the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) and the clinching of the accord with the AIADMK. He said the party decided to quit the DPA as it was not sure whether Karunanidhi would be able to allot seats to the MDMK as per its wish list. Even if these seats were granted, the question arose whether the party cadres at the grass roots would work together, he said.
On its part, the DMK said that one alliance partner leaving the front would not weaken it. DMK deputy general secretary M.K. Stalin said the people have made up their mind to throw out the Jayalalithaa government and it did not matter which party the AIADMK allied with. DMK chief Karunanidhi, speaking in Tiruchi, said that his party would oppose the continuance of MDMK in the United Progressive Alliance now that the party has joined hands with the All India Anna DMK.
|
