DMDK Joins DMK-Led Alliance; BJP Calls It Betrayal in TN
DMDK Joins DMK-Led Alliance; BJP Calls It Betrayal in TN
DMDK joins the DMK-led SPA ahead of Tamil Nadu polls, ending weeks of speculation as Premalatha Vijayakanth leads talks; BJP brands the move a betrayal.
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), founded by the late actor Vijayakanth, on Thursday joined the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, ending weeks of speculation. Premalatha Vijayakanth, the party’s general secretary and Vijayakanth’s wife, steered discussions with both major blocs before deciding on the DMK alliance. This is the first time since the party’s formation in 2005 that the DMDK has aligned with the DMK. Premalatha also noted that the decision came after listening to party supporters, signaling a strategic pivot after years of uncertain footing. The move brings the DMDK into a coalition that already includes key DMK partners and has implications for seat distribution and regional influence.
Premalatha met Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, on Thursday morning, with Stalin welcoming the development and expressing joy at the alliance. A senior DMK leader indicated that talks on seat sharing could allocate about eight seats to the DMDK and possibly a Rajya Sabha berth, while discussions reportedly ranged from six to ten seats. The DMDK’s influence had waned in recent years, complicating traditional power-sharing calculations in Tamil Nadu politics.
The BJP promptly lampooned the development, calling it a betrayal and releasing an old video of Vijayakanth opposing the DMK-Congress alliance to underscore the shift. The party framed the move as a calculated realignment that could alter the electoral landscape, even as observers noted the DMDK’s fading footprint on the ground. Analysts say the alliance with the DMK could help consolidate anti-BJP sentiment in the state, contingent on effective campaigning and seat distribution. This decision follows extensive internal discussions and signals a new chapter in Tamil Nadu’s electoral dynamics.
