The parties in the DMK alliance are biting their nails over how many seats they will be getting to contest in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
The DMK district secretaries are of the view that the party should not end up giving a large number of seats to the coalition parties and contest in the maximum number of seats possible. Sources say that Prashant Kishor, the DMK’s election strategist has apparently told DMK chief MK Stalin that the DMK would win the elections comfortably. He is said to have advised the Stalin that the party should contest in 200 constituencies to emerge victorious.
Following this, reports came that the parties in the DMK alliance like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) and the Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) are being urged to contest under the ‘rising sun’ symbol.
A few days ago VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan had stated that the VCK ‘had choice but no compulsion’ to contest under DMK’s symbol. However, he later tweeted saying that he never said that the VCK would ‘definitely contest under the DMK symbol’.
We didn't say that VCK will definitely contest under the DMK symbol. It is customary for parties leading alliance to suggest that unrecognized parties contest in their symbol for the welfare of the Alliance.We used to consider it. But our individuality and dignity comes foremost. pic.twitter.com/WfDz8n9lFn
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) January 21, 2021
In the midst of this, an ‘important person’ from the DMK is said to have met Thol. Thirumavalavan on behalf of M.K. Stalin. During the meeting, the ‘important person’ is said to have told the VCK chief that the DMK should have formed the government in 2016 with Kalaignar Karunanidhi as Chief Minister but missed it because of various reasons that includes the People’s Welfare Front of which Thol. Thirumavalavan’s VCK was part of. He is said to have pointed out sternly that the DMK lost its chance of coming to power in 2016 because Thol. Thirumavalavan played spoilsport and that the DMK chief was still unhappy about it. “Despite that, the DMK had given 2 seats for the VCK during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.”, the ‘important person’ is said to have told Thirumavalavan.
Apparently, Thirumavalavan has been told that there are some practical difficulties in allocating seats to alliance parties and that the VCK would be given only 2 seats for which the VCK leader has no choice but to agree. He is said to have told him that the election expenses for the 2 constituencies would be borne by the DMK.
A shocked and disappointed Thirumavalavan is said to have conveyed to the ‘important person’ that the VCK had held various protests across the state and has been strengthening the party. “Many brothers are putting a lot of pressure on me for contesting in the elections. How can two be enough in this situation? We need at least 10 seats,” Thirumavalavan is said to have told the ‘important person’.
It is expected that the VCK chief would be meeting M.K. Stalin in this regard soon.
(With inputs from Minnambalam)
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