Chennai: The seat-sharing talks with Vijayakant’s Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) are in the final stages and the AIADMK is hopeful of clinching the deal with the party, AIADMK senior and State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar has said.
“Based on our interaction (with Vijayakanth), the (seat-sharing) talks are in the final stages,” Mr. Jayakumar said and exuded the hope the two parties would clinch the deal. Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Jayakumar said he and Deputy Chief Minister had met
Mr. Vijayakanth at his residence.
The DMDK and the AIADMK have been holding the talks since last month, and on Monday Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam called on the actor-politician and was said to have taken the issue forward. And on Tuesday, Mr. Vijayakanth and his wife and party treasurer Premalatha held nearly two-hour long discussion with their party seniors on the alliance issue.
Sources claimed that the DMDK has sought 7 Lok Sabha seats to contest besides a Rajya Sabha seat – on par with the seats that have been allotted to the Dr. S. Ramadoss’ PMK by the ruling AIADMK.
Also, in today’s emergency meeting with senior functionaries, at the party head office here, the DMDK was said to have put forth the demand for 20 per cent allocation to the party in the local bodies elections, besides certain Assembly constituencies such as Sholinghur, Ambur and Hosur during the by-elections.
The seat-sharing pact between the two parties is likely to be announced on Wednesday morning hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the metro to launch welfare schemes besides address a joint rally of alliance parties at suburban Vandalur.
Once the DMDK comes on board, the AIADMK would lead five parties including PMK, BJP, N R Congress and Puthiya Thamizhagam. Efforts are also on to rope in G. K. Vasan-led TMC into the combine.
