Left leaders upset over Vaiko’s invite to DMDK

It is reliably learnt that even when PWF leaders were negotiating with the DMDK to forge an alliance, there was an underhand attempt by the latter to neutralise the alliance. “DMDK discreetly approached both the MDMK and VCK to leave the PWF and to join an alliance headed by DMDK,” a Left leader told DTNext on condition of anonymity. 

“However, since both the MDMK and VCK stayed firm in their commitment, the PWF was saved,” he said. According to him, the Left parties were shocked to know about the DMDK’s Machiavellian strategy to destroy the PWF. 

“While the popular allegation is that DMK is trying to neutralise the four-party front, the DMDK’s attempt to woo MDMK and VCK out of the alliance was a bolt from the blue,” he said. The leader further charged that they see a strong BJP influence behind DMDK’s attempt to break the PWF. 

“It is also pertinent to note that the DMDK was also in talks with the BJP at that time and so we strongly suspect the role of BJP to rope in MDMK and VCK,” he said. It is in this backdrop, a section of Left leaders are now divided over the MDMK leader Vaiko’s renewed invitation to the DMDK to join the PWF. 

“This despite the fact that the DMDK leader Vijayakant’s announcement earlier that it will go alone in the polls,” he said. According to him, it will be unethical to enter into a tie-up with a party that earlier attempted to neutralise the same alliance. 

It is also interesting to note that VCK leader Ravikumar in his Facebook post earlier said that “Inviting the DMDK to join the PWF means that PWF will not join the alliance led by DMDK.”

After Stalin’s denial, MK says talks on with DMDK

Even before the DMK rank and file bounced back from the “fruit and milk” faux pas, party president M Karunanidhi on Monday threw another surprise by again exuding confidence that Vijayakant’s DMDK would join their alliance.

“I have not lost hope still,” Karunanidhi told media persons at Anna Arivalayam after chairing a meeting of district secretaries, in response to a specific query on his party’s position on DMDK joining the fold.

Karunanidhi went a step ahead and also admitted that alliance talks with the DMDK is continuing, barely a few days after his party treasurer son M K Stalin denied the same. 

Only on Sunday, Vijayakant had appealed to the voters to ignore the DMK and AIADMK in an interview to a TV channel. Curiously, that part of Karunanidhi’s sound byte where he talks about the “alliance talks continuing with DMDK” was missing in the usual transcript the party high command sent on Monday. 

“We were snubbed once already. Given Vijayakant’s volatile nature, Karunanidhi could have avoided making an another blatant statement within a week,” said a senior DMK functionary.  

Some DMK functionaries, who defended the Dravidian patriarch’s statement, said “Karunanidhi will not issue such a statement, that too for the second time in a week, without receiving feelers from the DMDK camp. Even otherwise, his statement will keep the rest of the Opposition guessing.”

DMK sets 2-seat target to district secretaries

It appears the DMK has chalked out a plan to ensure its return to power. The party has set two seats as target for each of its 65 district secretaries. When the district bosses got in to a huddle at Anna Arivalayam on Monday, party treasurer M K Stalin advised the secretaries of the 65 district units to ensure victory in at least two seats in their respective districts. Karunanidhi, who spoke later, seconding Stalin’s view.