BackTamil Nadu polls: Vijayakanth’s rebels extend support to DMK
Makkal DMDK leader V.C. Chandrakumar says extending unconditional support to the DMK
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Chennai: The rebels from Vijayakanth’s Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), who launched their own party Makkal DMDK, met the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday and extended their support ahead of the 16 May assembly polls.
“We did not make any demand on the number of seats. We are extending unconditional support to the DMK," said V.C. Chandrakumar, leader of Makkal DMDK. “Whatever may be the number of seats given to us, we are ready to work with DMK," added Chandrakumar.
Earlier in the day, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin invited the Makkal DMDK to meet party chief M. Karunanidhi.
“If Makkal DMDK members are willing to join us, Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) is ready to meet them," said Stalin.
The breakaway faction from DMDK floated Makkal DMDK on 10 April and said that the members of the outfit would call on the DMK leadership, if invited.
Ten members of the DMDK were expelled by the party on 5 April after they expressed their dissent over Vijayakanth’s decision to ally with the People’s Welfare Front (PWF). The rebels led by Chandrakumar, who was the propaganda secretary in the DMDK, stressed on having an alliance with the DMK “to remove the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and pave way for a government that the people of Tamil Nadu will like".
The rebels wanted DMDK to tie up with the DMK, and said that the ruling AIADMK had encouraged the PWF-DMDK tie-up to split opposition votes.
On Saturday, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) led by G.K. Vasan joined the DMDK-PWF alliance and will contest from 26 constituencies of the total 234 assembly seats.
Senior members of TMC like Peter Alphonse who is a member of the legislative assembly, among others, have raised concerns over Vasan’s decision on the alliance.
Following this, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress E.V.K.S. Elangovan invited the members who have expressed displeasure over TMC’s alliance with PWF-DMDK.
In November 2014, former Union minister Vasan revived his father G.K. Moopanar’s TMC after differences with the high-command of Congress.
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