Chennai: DMDK MLA and propaganda secretary V.C. Chandrakumar told reporters, “We have not quit the DMDK till now. We are conveying our request to Captain through the media. We hope he will change his decision. We will wait till tomorrow afternoon in the hope that he will call and speak to us.” He was accompanied by four MLAs - C.H. Sekar (Gummidipoondi), S.R. Parthiban (Mettur), district secretaries J. Viswanathan (Vellore Central), N. Karthikeyan (Tiruvannamalai North), N.S. Sivakumar (Erode South), P. Senthilkumar (Erode North). Sekar and Parthiban are also secretaries of their district units.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Chandrakumar, said Vijayakanth’s decision to form an alliance with the PWA had created an impression that the DMDK is functioning in support of the AIADMK and its leader J. Jayalalithaa hoping she would win and form the government again.“It does not mean the DMK is weak. The DMK can come to power under its leader M. Karunanidhi even without DMDK in the alliance”, he added.
Chandrakumar said Vijayakanth had earlier informed them he was holding negotiations with the DMK and asked their opinion about DMK’s offer. The party men wanted the DMDK to join the DMK alliance to defeat the AIADMK and 95 per cent of the party men had conveyed the decision to Vijayakanth in the general council meeting, district secretaries meeting and during the interviews for selection of candidates.
Captain was all along saying he would consider their opinion and take a good decision. He did not deny media reports for more than three months that the DMDK would align with DMK. Captain himself asked how many votes the DMDK could get by forming alliance with the PWA. But, he announced the decision to form an alliance with the PWA on March 23, Chandrakumar said. “After Vijayakanth’s announcement, most of the party men expressed their displeasure and some of them even wept while reacting to events, either in person or on the phone. They conveyed their miserable situation after such a decision. We also gave a letter asking Captain to reconsider his stand on March 24. Till now we were waiting for him to change the decision”.
He said the four MLAs and party functionaries with him were loyal to Vijayakanth from the ’80s. The MLAs and functionaries were lured by the ruling AIADMK in the last 5 years and they were very staunch and loyal to Captain and faced the oppressive measures of the AIADMK government.
