In a major political realignment for the Assembly elections, actor-politician Vijayakanth is likely to announce his alliance with the AIADMK at the DMDK’s state conference at Salem on Sunday “to ensure the defeat of the DMK’s family octopus”.
“Our strategy is very clear. We want to unseat the DMK. We do not want the votes against the autocratic DMK rule getting divided. We must restore democracy from the tentacles of DMK octopus. We have no hesitation in teaming up with the Opposition parties,” party presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran told this newspaper on Saturday.
Actor Vijayakanth has polled 8-10 per cent votes in the 2006 state and 2009 Lok Sabha polls, mostly the young voters, and so it is going to be a tough battle for the DMK, which has the Congress, PMK and dalit VCK in its camp. Since launching his party, Vijayakanth has been going alone and playing spoilsport for Ms Jayalalithaa’s party. But, this time it will be an interesting battle between equally formidable Dravidian forces.
Projecting himself as an alternative to the Dravidian majors, Mr Vijayakanth has been maintaining that he would go it alone. When asked about the mind change reducing the party’s image, Mr Ramachandran said, “It is not a question of compromise, but survival. If the DMK regains power, future of political parties would be at stake.”
“During World War II, capitalists and Communists countries allied to defeat dictator Hitler. This is not the right time to articulate our differences. We will work together without compromising our identity,” Mr Ramachandran, one of the trusted lieutenants of the late MGR and now the think-tank of DMDK, said justifying their alliance with the AIADMK.
However, he said talks between the two parties are yet to commence.
Party president Vijayakanth himself has indicated enough.
He issued a rejoinder to an advertisement purportedly issued by some of his partymen criticising Ms Jayalalithaa on Friday.
“The DMDK has nothing to do with an advertisement hitting out at the AIADMK leadership. It’s a handiwork of ruling party, which wants to keep the Opposition divided. People will teach them a lesson,” Vijayakanth said.