OPS repeats ‘alliance with DMDK in a few days’ tune

Addressing reporters here, the AIADMK leader also announced that his party had signed an alliance with Puthiya Thamizhagam (PT) party, led by K Krishnasamy. The party, which will support the ruling party in all the 21 vacant Assembly seats, has been allocated one seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

In his speech, Krishnasamy said that his party will not contest on the AIADMK symbol and will support the AIADMK candidates in the LS and

Assembly bypoll elections. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar also echoed the statement of Panneerselvam and opined that DMK leader M K Stalin has lost his sleep due to the strong alliance formed by the AIADMK and BJP in the State.

“Poll works are progressing at a brisk pace. A good news on forming an alliance with the DMDK will be announced soon,” Jayakumar said. It may be noted that the alliance talks between the AIADMK and DMDK has been dragging for over a fortnight.

Meanwhile, DMDK founder Vijayakant on Saturday held a second round of meeting with party office bearers. The DMDK had also submitted a wish list of seats with the AIADMK alliance committee members.

“Both the PMK and DMDK are eyeing seats in north Tamil Nadu and this has become a bone of contention between them. We are attending to it,” said an AIADMK district secretary, privy to the negotiations.

Earlier in the day, the AIADMK leaders held a meeting at the party headquarters to discuss the mega rally to be attended by PM Narendra Modi. According to sources, the party is planning to give 4-5 seats to the DMDK and will retain 20 seats for its candidates. A C Shanmugham of Puthiya Neethi Katchi is likely to contest on the ‘Two leaves’ symbol. “Work on preparing the poll manifesto and candidate selection are nearing thefinal stage. Both will befinalised by next week,” a source added.