DMK allots CPI, VCK two seats each

While the CPM stood its ground and sought three Lok Sabha seats or two LS plus a Rajya Sabha berth, the bone of contention between the DMK and the MDMK was the symbol issue. The DMK was learnt to have compelled Vaiko’s MDMK to contest on the Rising Sun symbol in the lone Lok sabha seat to be allotted to the party.

Top level sources in the DMK revealed to DT Next that the DMK had offered one Lok Sabha seat, which would most likely be Erode and a Rajya Sabha nomination for Vaiko.

The MDMK leader, who reached Arivalayam hoping to ink the pact, returned disappointed after informing that he had turned up to personally inform the DMK seat sharing team that they could not hold talks today and the party could decide only after consulting senior functionaries on Tuesday.

In the case of Left  parties, the element of surprise was sprung by the Marxist, who had not only refused to scale down their three-seat demand, but also raked up the 21-seat by poll issue, which, the DMK had refused to even engage now. CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan was content with telling media persons that the talks would continue tomorrow.

Like Vaiko, the VCK was also allotted an extra seat on condition that it should contest on its Rising Sun symbol. Thirumavalavan had subtly accepted the DMK’s condition saying, “We have always contested in our own symbol. But, in the current situation and in the interest of the alliance, we will decide on contesting on a winning symbol after discussing with our frontline leaders and in consultation with the DMK seat sharing team.” 

VCK is likely to be given Chidambaram and Tiruvallur seat as Villupuram (reserve) was on the radar of the Congress.

Given the existing tally of MLAs, the DMK would be able to comfortably nominate three members to the upper house.

DMK, which plans to nominate its trade union LPF leader Shanmugham to the RS, would have one seat left after apportioning another to Vaiko. 

If information trickling out of Arivalayam was something to go by, the DMK could seal the deal with CPM and MDMK on Tuesday and parade its allies in the party rally at Virudhunagar on March 6, the same day the AIADMK-led allies would share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city.

Meanwhile, the DMK has allotted one seat to Pachamuthu’s IJK, which would also contest on DMK’s symbol. The Dravidian major had already allotted 10 seats, including Puducherry to Congress, one each to IUML and KNMDK (DMK symbol).

Understandably, the generosity shown by the DMK leadership in seat allocation has not impressed its second rung leaders.

“Though four or five alliance candidates would be contesting in our symbol, our tally would be reduced to 20 seats. Effectively, we will only be contesting in half the number of seats, which is very low,” said a senior functionary requesting anonymity.

Leadership had conceded the demands of smaller parties by engaging the PMK and DMDK, which was a costly mistake. Stalin committed a blunder by visiting Vijayakant. There is no point in regretting it now. The same parties would have settled for one seat each if the deal was done ten days ago,” he added.

Prominent DMK faces like Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), party treasurer Duraimurugan’s son Kathir Anand (Vellore), writer Tamilachi Thangapandian (South Chennai), Senthil Balaji (Karur and Aravakurichi Assembly seat), Anjugam Boopathi (Thanjavur) and LPF leader Rajagantham (North Chennai) filed the applications with the party high command on Monday.

A few prominent leaders would submit their papers on Tuesday before starting to Virudhunagar rally.