Final decision on alliance by month end, says Vasan

Speculations are rife that all the major alliances are attempting to rope Vasan in by talking to him through different channels. 

Meanwhile, TMC leader and ex-Union Minister GK Vasan on Saturday said his party would be part of a strong alliance and face the May 16 polls and a final decision in this regard would be taken before the end of this month. 

Talking to reporters here, he said, since there was enough time for filing nominations to begin, the TMC would take a final decision before the month end. 

Vasan said his party would be part of a strong alliance. Referring to reports that TMC was trying to ally with the ruling AIADMK, the TMC leader said he did not want to respond to any speculation.

While the AIADMK has reportedly offered double digit seats to him, the number quoted by DMDK, according to sources was slightly higher and the DMK has also conveyed to the TMC that it would get a decent share. 

TMC sources said that they expect at least 25 seats in any alliance. “A majority of the popular and big faces, who were earlier with the parent party of Congress, are now with us. All of them are well known to the public and also have a good name in their constituencies. So, they stand a good chance of victory, which would boost the seat tally of any alliance where the TMC is,” said a party functionary. 

But, so far, none of the major alliances have conceded the TMC’s demand for 25 seats, according to sources.

A Congress functionary said that the “DMK cannot weigh us down by pointing to the exit of GK Vasan. In fact, our party is more active than the TMC.” 

“In fact, this election is more decisive for the DMK than to our party,” said a Congress functionary . DMK during its negotiations with the Congress on Friday had said the strength of the national party had weakened after Vasan, who revived the TMC floated by his late father GK Moopanar in the 90s, left the ‘grand old party’. 

Though the DMK’s observation had not gone well with the Congress, the party seems ready for a deal if it is offered 45 seats. 

Sources in the state Congress unit said they have conveyed to the party central leaders negotiating the seat sharing with the DMK that 45 seats would be a decent and agreeable number. 

In other developments, PMK sources dismissed reports that the DMK was trying to pull them into its alliance. “We have not received any call from Arivalayam, said a senior PMK functionary.