Aspirants happy as Capt back in action

While the party leader Vijayakant was back in action heading the interview panel for Lok Sabha tickets, the turnout of aspirants was poor because of the low number of seats, four, allotted to the DMDK by the AIADMK. Applicants who attended the interview on Wednesday said they were happy to see their leader Vijayakant interact with them.

Speaking to DT Next, a DMDK cadre from Tirupur requesting anonymity said, “We are not allowed to speak to media, but we are happy to see the Captain back in action conducting interviews. We are confident that his return will definitely make a positive impact on the party workers.”

The DMDK started issuing applications to ticket seekers for the upcoming Lok Sabha election from February 24 and the filled in forms were received till March 6. According to DMDK office-bearers, they have received as many as 762 applications. In the meantime, the party finalised its alliance with the ruling AIADMK and was allotted four Lok Sabha constituencies. However, the party cadre were not content with the number of seats allocated in the alliance and this was evident from the strength of applicants who attended the interview at the party office in Koyambedu on Wednesday.

The party had scheduled the interview process for one day. The interview panel was headed by Vijayakant, who shot only a limited number of questions to the applicants. Though he was not at his best, the improvement in his health surprised many of the party workers. However, it failed to attract cadre in huge numbers as only around 200 applicants turned up for the interview, party sources lamented.

They further said the tentative constituencies allotted to DMDK were already out and applicants from those constituencies alone attended the interview. A few others attended the interview only to see Vijayakant and know his health condition, they added.

Meanwhile, DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakant told reporters on Wednesday that the party was yet to decide on fielding her in the Lok Sabha election. Addressing the media at Chennai airport, she said, “I do not know. You (media) have to wait for the final word whether I will be contesting or not.”