DMK opens negotiations with undecided TMC

Second rung leaders of the DMK have been hosting their TMC counterparts lately, after the AIADMK was reportedly unwilling to increase its offer to TMC beyond the initial eight seats. And that too on condition that they should contest under AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. 

Unable to drive a bargain with the AIADMK, especially after the DMDK abandoned the DMK, Vasan, most of whose supporters, supported the  AIADMK, however, let his lieutenants continue negotiations with their allies in Arivalayam. Admittedly, Vasan and DMK top brass are yet to hold direct talks. 

“We are hopeful that AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa will call us after interviewing her party candidates. We hope to get the desired numbers. Otherwise, we will join the alliance where we will get maximum seats,” a senior TMC leader told DTNext, putting their demand at around 30.

DMK president M Karunanidhi, who chose to be ‘miserly’ in his negotiations with Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad last week, offering only 25 seats, hopes that getting Vasan on board would help them in the delta and a few southern districts. 

Interactions with DMK insiders only bore testimony to Karunanidhi’s confidence. Party sources confided to this newspaper that they are willing to allot 20 plus seats to Vasan and restrict Congress to around 30. DMK sources even exuded confidence that the talks with TMC could attain significant progress by the weekend. 

“Our leaders are ready to accommodate TMC. Karunanidhi had even told Azad that Congress should not be concerned about DMK getting parties they dislike on board,” a DMK senior requesting anonymity said. And accommodating TMC would reduce Congress’ tally, as Stalin is determined to field his candidates in no less than 160 seats. 

Not surprisingly, more than seats, the DMK would face an uphill task in bringing Congress and the breakaway faction TMC together. 

“Rahul and Sonia will definitely not want to share the dais with TMC leaders. We would be asked to rather go it alone,” said a young Congress leader, who got wind of the DMK-TMC negotiation. 

Though TNCC president EVKS Elangovan’s reassuring statement that the deal would be clinched in two days and Karunanidhi’s rapport with ’10 Janpath’ might be reassuring to both party cadre, Stalin’s palpable aversion towards the Congress and newfound aggression has definitely left many Sathyamurthy Bhavan inhabitants restless.