The DMK and DMDK risk the prospect of losing a Rajya Sabha seat this July as also next March, if they fail to come together. Sources in both the parties regret that DMDK chief Vijayakanth is yet to make any moves towards aligning with the DMK. The DMK has already dropped enough hints intending to tie up with the actor-turned-politician.
Sources also said that the lack of direction in the DMDK is leading to more and more MLAs deserting the actor-turned politician. Six MPs are retiring on July 27 this year and two MPs, namely Vasanthi Stanley and Jinnah of the DMK, are retiring next April.
A minimum of 34 votes is required to elect an MP for the Upper House. The AIADMK has 150 legislators in its kitty. DMK currently has 23 members and DMDK 29 officially. But six legislators of the DMDK have turned rebels and have begun to function separately in the Assembly but leaning more towards the ruling AIADMK. In the event of another four MLAs deserting Vijayakanth, the legislators will escape the anti-defection law. In addition, six members of the DMDK got suspended from the Assembly in February for a period of six months, which means only 17 members of the party can exercise their franchise in the biennial elections.
Sources said that if the DMK and the DMDK can work out an arrangement among themselves they could secure one seat each in the next two biennial polls. But failing to do so will only strengthen the hands of their rival and Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. Sources also said that the lack of clarity about the strategy being adopted by the Opposition leader with regard to alliances is also a contributing factor for many MLAs joining the Jayalalithaa bandwagon.
Informed sources said that if Vijayakanth were to telephone or call on DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi on his birthday, which falls on June 3, it could well be a harbinger of good times for both the parties.