Chennai: DMK working president M.K. Stalin’s open request for People’s Welfare Alliance to support his party candidate in R K Nagar bypoll has triggered differences among the PWA constituents with CPM keen on fielding a candidate, while VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan is in favour of backing the DMK.
A day after CPM state secretary G. Ramakrishnan declared that the CPM would field its candidate in RK Nagar, Thirumavalavan said on Monday the option of supporting the DMK in the bypoll would be discussed in the meeting of the three parties on March 14.
When he was asked about the CPM leader’s announcement, Thirumavalavan said the CPM leader had only expressed the views of CPM and the stand of CPI is not known. A decision would be announced after discussions between the leaders of three parties, he said.
Refraining from denying the differences among the three parties, he said a strategy acceptable to all the three parties would be announced, when answering a specific query if there are differences among the PWA parties.
The VCK leader also ruled out the possibility of the VCK contesting the bypoll and said, “If the PWA decided not to contest, the parties will discuss the option of supporting the DMK too”.
Commenting on the possible outcome of the bypoll, he also said though the AIADMK votes would be split in three ways, the DMK might not get all the votes against the ruling party. Besides, the support of youth is unpredictable, he opined.
VCK leaders see Stalin’s invitation as an opportunity for the party to join hands with the DMK and are reluctant to reject the DMK working president’s appeal since it could burn the bridges between the two parties. Thirumavalavan’s leanings towards the DMK, finally led to Vaiko’s exit from PWA and the same issue has triggered strong differences in the alliance again.
When VCK wanted to attend an all party meeting organised by the DMK on Cauvery, MDMK leader Vaiko staunchly opposed it, leading to differences among the allies.
Thirumavalavan wrote a letter to Stalin explaining that he was prevented from attending the meeting and the DMK leader responded with a reply appreciating the VCK stand.
After establishing the contact with Stalin, the VCK leader is supporting the DMK on all issues including the incidents in the Assembly on February 18 during the confidence vote taken by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami.
