Allies mount pressure on DMK seeking more seats

The principal opposition party’s probable allies are now using the failed alliance talks to demand more seats. According to sources, the CPI, MDMK and VCK have demanded at least two seats each, a day after it became clear that DMDK was set to be a part of the AIADMK alliance.

The probable allies, who had a ‘satisfactory’ first round of seat sharing negotiations with the DMK, have cited the willingness of the Dravidian party to allot six seats to the PMK earlier to justify their demand.

However, sources said the DMK was only interested in allotting a seat each, including to the CPM which has been asking two seats from the beginning.

“The three parties are asking at least two seats each, while Stalin does not want to part with more than one. They are now urging the DMK to apportion the six seats it had earlier planned to allot to the PMK to them,” a senior DMK leader, requesting anonymity told DT Next.

“Talks with the PMK and DMDK has misfired. Stalin should have avoided the talks. The same allies would have settled for a seat each if the pact was inked 10 days ago. Now it has emboldened to them ask more. As much as compromising our negotiating position, it has also conveyed a wrong message to the cadre that we have not forged a formidable alliance,” said another leader, who also blamed a party leader for allies demanding the extra seat.

DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi who was instrumental in the Congress getting 10 seats, two more than what Stalin had planned to allot, has recommended the second seat for VCK leader Ravikumar, the source disclosed, adding that Stalin did not appreciate it.

The current stand-off has resulted in the DMK not firming up its alliance. “Everything will, however, fall in place and all the leaders in the alliance will be ready to share the dais during Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state later this month,” the source added.

The Indiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) led by TR Pachamuthu has extended its support to the DMK led alliance in the ensuing Parliamentary elections, ending a five-year long partnership with the BJP.

Leaders of the IJK, a fledgling party which joined the NDA in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, on Saturday met with DMK president M K Stalin and offered the party’s support to the alliance. The party, which is likely to be allotted a seat in the alliance, could be asked to contest on DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.

Sources privy to the meeting told DT Next that the IJK could be allotted Kallakurichi or Perambalur seat. Contesting as the BJP candidate at Perambalur in 2014, Pachamuthu had managed to secure 2.38 lakh votes, only 10,000 votes less than the DMK which finished runner up then.