Multi-cornered fight on cards

With the DMDK led by Vijayakanth announcing its stance to join People's Welfare Front (PWF), the stage is all set for a multi-cornered contest in the upcoming Assembly election to Tamil Nadu.

A clear picture of electoral alliances will emerge by next week and going by the current scenario, Tamil Nadu is likely to see at least a five-corner fight, a first of its kind in the state. In the fray are AIADMK, DMK-Congress, PWF-DMDK, PMK and the BJP.

Till 2011, state-level politics was dominated by the two Dravidian parties—the J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and M Karunanidhi-led DMK.

This is also for the first time that the BJP, which was led NDA front in the state with key parties including DMDK, MDMK-led Vaiko and PMK during last Parliament elections, is almost isolated in the state, forcing them to contest alone.

Since the BJP has also criticised the AIADMK government in the recent times, it has the only option to approach Ramadoss’ PMK, which is expected to bring in votes from the Vanniyar community in western and northern districts.

After snapping ties with the DMDK and the two communist parties, the J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK had already hinted that it will contest the election on its own, while its arch-rival the DMK have tied-up with the Congress, Indian Union Muslim League and Puthiya Tamizhagam Katchi.

The stand to be adopted by Tamil Maanila Congress revived by former Congress leader G K Vasan is yet to be decided, though reports indicate that it might ally with either the AIADMK or the PWF.