Race for TN govt: Rumours emerge of DMK backing AIADMK to stop Vijay’s TVK

CHENNAI: The already turbulent politics in Tamil Nadu seems to have entered uncharted waters on Wednesday after multiple sources claimed that the DMK has extended support for arch rival Edappadi K Palaniswami’s AIADMK to lead the next government, and him as chief minister, to thwart any attempt by TVK leader C Joseph Vijay from coming to power.

Vijay’s party, which ended nearly six decades of Dravidian rule to emerge the biggest party with 108 seats on its own (including Vijay from two seats) and also secured the support of Congress’s 5 MLA-elects, is still 6 seats short of simple majority (118). On the other hand, the DMK (59) and AIADMK (47) have 106 seats. Their allies have 14 seats – PMK has 4; CPM, CPI, VCK, IUML have 2 each, and AMMK and BJP have 1 each – from which the Dravidian combine would require 12.

Though speculations about this unlikely scenario was making the rounds since Tuesday, it gained currency a day after, after multiple sources from different parties – except the DMK – claimed that some moves were under way, without divulging full information. What lend further credence to the rumour was the stoic silence of the DMK, which made no efforts to deny it – some of its leaders seem to be fuelling it further by taking to social media to post cryptic messages about a churning in the offing.

Beyond the speculations, several episodes being played out during the day made the rumours stronger. For instance, when Vijay met him with Congress’s letter of support to stake claim to form the next government, Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar insisted that the party should prove its majority within two days of swearing in, a period that is so unusually short that it led suspicions that the BJP was orchestrating behind-the-scene moves to ensure that the Congress does not come to power.

Meanwhile, it was known that the party’s plan to hold the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday was postponed. Later in the day, TVK leader and MLA-elect Aadhav Arjuna called on the Governor at Lok Bhavan, though details of what transpired in the meeting is not immediately known.

Some of the leaders said like how Congress’s move to come to power in Tamil Nadu prompted the BJP to enter the scene though backdoor, its decision to snap ties with the DMK and support the TVK to form the government, in return for two cabinet positions, seems to have triggered the countermove from the DMK.

Despite the strength of the speculations, the rumours are still that – rumours. Because, it remains to be seen if the CPM, CPI, and VCK will be open to such an audacious political manoeuvring that would raise questions about their commitment to their respective ideology.

If that was not enough, reports said some newly elected members of TVK have gone missing, while at least one source claimed that central agencies would be fielded soon to target Vijay and key members of his party.