CHENNAI: Ahead of the second annual guru puja (memorial observance) for late DMDK founder Vijayakant on December 28, his party is extending personal invitations to rival political leaders, fueling speculation about its future alliances.

DMDK treasurer LK Sudhish and former MLA Parthasarathy personally invited Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to attend the event.

This outreach assumes significance as the DMDK's political alignment for the upcoming Assembly elections remains undecided. The party, which contested the last Lok Sabha polls with the AIADMK, later left the alliance after a dispute over a Rajya Sabha seat. DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant has stated that a formal decision on alliances will be announced at a party conference in Cuddalore in January.

Currently, there is reported backchannel activity: the BJP and AIADMK are said to be in talks to bring the DMDK into the NDA fold, while rumours also suggest possible negotiations with the ruling DMK.

In this context, the invitations to the heads of Tamil Nadu’s two major Dravidian parties are being closely watched. Whether Stalin and Palaniswami choose to attend Vijayakanth’s memorial service, and the nature of any interactions there, could provide early signals about the DMDK’s bargaining position and the viability of a potential new alliance. The guru puja, therefore, may offer more than just homage; it could become a subtle arena for political realignment.