Chennai: A day after DMDK leader Vijayakanth shut the doors on the DMK, party leaders are trying to chalk out alternate plans to compensate for the loss of about five to six per cent votes of the actor’s party that could have given an edge for the DMK against the AIADMK in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The options for the party to forge a strong alliance seems to be limited with four of the usually available parties forming the People’s Welfare Alliance. The DMK has burnt its bridges with the parties and it would be a Herculean task to break the front to catch any one of them.
It had alienated the MDMK by its bid to break the outfit and humiliated the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi during the seat sharing talks in the 2014 Parliament elections. But, the party may look to get the smaller parties and caste outfits which have votes in specific areas or have clout with particular communities.
The party has a large number of seats to share with such outfits which could be satisfied with the offer of a few seats. In the north, Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi has a good base in Cuddalore district.
Its leader T. Velmurugan had met AIADMK supreme J. Jayalalithaa and asserted that he continues in the AIADMK front. But, he is awaiting an official endorsement word from the AIADMK and it remains to be seen if Velmurugan could be lured to the DMK front with a generous offer.
In the south, the DMK could woo the Puthiya Thamizhagam which was in its alliance in the 2014 Parliament polls. In the western belt, one of the weaker areas for the DMK, it has the option of forming ties with the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi which is now open to an alliance with the DMK or AIADMK.
Actors M. Karthick and T. Rajendhar and a couple of caste outfits are expecting seats from the DMK.
