Vaiko's MDMK likely to quit DMK alliance after nine years, cites 'deep anguish'
The Vaiko-led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) is likely to finalise its exit from the DMK-led alliance at its general council meeting on Saturday, after
The Vaiko-led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) is likely to finalise its exit from the DMK-led alliance at its general council meeting on Saturday, after expressing what it called "pain" and "deep anguish" over how it was treated in the coalition over the past nine years. The move follows a charged high-level committee meeting on Friday, where the party signalled its intention to break ties. However, MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko said individual leaders could not unilaterally sever ties, and that the final decision on whether to remain with the DMK or walk out of the alliance would be announced after office-bearers and cadres vote at the general council. Read Full Story At Friday's meeting, the absence of the party's legislator Senthil Selvan, who won from Sikrazhi, triggered speculation that he could resign and join the ruling TVK led by its founder and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
Rajendran, the Kadayanallur MLA, attended the meeting. There are also indications that the MDMK, which contested four constituencies as part of the DMK-led alliance on the DMK's rising sun symbol and won two seats, may explore future alliance options with the Vijay-led party. Vaiko, the party's general secretary, made his displeasure clear at a meeting in Virudhunagar earlier in the day, saying he was unhappy and resentful over how his party had been treated in the DMK alliance despite his loyalty and efforts to promote the DMK leadership and the Dravidian movement over the last nine years. Vaiko had earlier been with the DMK before launching the MDMK. In an apparent reference to the Premalatha Vijayakanth-led DMDK, which was given more Assembly seats in the April 23 polls as well as a Rajya Sabha seat, Vaiko said smaller parties were given greater importance in the DMK camp.
He said his biggest source of anguish was that the MDMK had to contest on the DMK's rising sun symbol while other allies were allowed to use their own party symbols. "We had to compromise on our self-respect and dignity to remain in the alliance for nine years," Vaiko said at the Virudhunagar meeting, expressing frustration and anguish over the party's experience in the DMK's Secular Progressive Alliance. Durai Vaiko had also recently spoken in similar terms about the party being made to contest on the rising sun symbol. The high-level meeting, chaired by the party's chairperson, was held to discuss resolutions for the upcoming general council meeting. If the MDMK quits, it will become the sixth party to leave the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance after the Assembly results in May.
The BriefWire