Chennai: Old warhorse of Dravidian politics, Su Thirunavukarasu, on Thursday sprang a surprise visiting DMDK chief Vijayakant at his Saligramam bungalow thereby triggering speculation that the former TNCC president was brokering his party's alliance with Captain by keeping him out of the BJP-AIADMK coalition.
Vijayakant is said to be upset over the BJP-AIADMK team enlisting the PMK into the rainbow alliance by offering it seven Lok Sabha seats and one Rajya Sabha constituency. He has demanded "at least parity if not more" compared with the PMK tally since the Vanniyar-dominated party is considered influential only in the north and west regions in the state whereas the DMDK has its support base well distributed across the state.
But with Vijayakant said to be mostly resting after the recent return from the US after medical treatment, it is most unlikely his services would be available for the saffron coalition for campaigning in the state. Also, the DMDK vote-share has been gradually eroding and is said to be around only two per cent now. Hence it should come as no surprise that the coalition leaders are unwilling to go beyond 3-4 seats for the DMDK.
Sources said Vijayakant and family are pretty unhappy with the BJP-AIADMK response to the DMDK ambition. "But then, we cannot rule out Captain making up with them in the next few days, perhaps for other considerations", said a source.
For his part, Su Thirunavukarasar played his part perfectly; sending waves of excitement across the newsrooms and taking over the evening TV debates that went gaga over possibilities of Captain crossing over to the Congress-DMK camp. Emerging from the meeting with a broad smile, the former PCC chief told the eager media persons that he was only visiting an old friend to enquire about his health. But of course, he added even as his smile was getting even wider that discussing politics would be inevitable when two political leaders meet.
"This is election season and would it not a lie if I say I did not discuss the political scenario (with Vijayakanth)? We discussed the situation in the state and in the country", Thirunavukkarasar said. "I have shared with him my opinion that it will be good if he takes a good decision, keeping in mind the situation in the country for the past about four and a half years".
The Congress leader said both the DMDK chief and people knew the situation in the country under the BJP-led regime at the Centre. "It will be good if he takes a decision considering the welfare of the nation," he said -- apparently an indirect invitation to the DMDK to join the DMK-led camp.
The rival AIADMK coalition expressed annoyance at Thirunavukarasar fishing in troubled waters. Flaying the DMK front, senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said his coalition was continuing talks with 'Captain' and there was strong hope he would steer clear of the Congress-DMK wooing.
"We have the flower (BJP's Lotus), the leaf (AIADMK's two-leaves) and there will also be the drum (DMDK symbol) to complete the auspicious alliance", declared Jayakumar. "On the other hand, the rival camp has a scorching sun (DMK), chopped hand (Congress) and hurtful hammers (Left). People will shun them".
AIADMK organisation secretary JCD Prabhakar, who is part of his party's panel holding alliance talks, said he did not see much political significance in Thirunavukarasar visiting Vijayakanth. Another AIADMK senior said the party was negotiating with multiple parties and a final picture "will emerge sooner than expected". He said it was "natural for parties to pitch their demands high but they will understand realities and settle for pragmatic numbers".
Another source closely involved in the alliance talks said it was quite possible that Thirunavukarasar could be exploring possibilities of forging a third front after coming out of the Congress as he was said to be upset over his sudden dethronement by the AICC. The ex-AIADMK, ex-BJP, Dravidian stalwart could have talked to Captain and family about this third-front possibility, the source said.
Meanwhile, the DMDK's five-member poll panel, led by deputy general secretary L K Sudeesh, held discussions about the various alliance options.
