JOIN USAhead of the polls, the Vijayakanth's DMDK in Tamil Nadu is likely heading towards a split, with a section of senior party leaders including its several sitting MLAs led by propoganda secretary V C Chandrakumar decrying the party's decision to join the People's Welfare Front (PWF) combine for the forthcoming election by describing it as a "suicide pact".
Chandrakukar claimed that the party men did not like the DMDK joining hands with the PWF as they felt it would "seriously" affect party’s prospects at the hustings.
“They (cadres) including me favoured a electoral understanding with the DMK since it would brighten the chances of coming to power in the State,” he added.
Taking a complete U turn, Vijayakanth, who strongly asserted that his party would go alone in the May 16 assembly elections, entered into an poll alliance with the four-party PWF on March 23.
After which, it was quite evident that thousands of “frustrated” DMDK cadres including senior district secretaries started joining the Opposition DMK with the latest one to quit DMDK was Chennai metro secretary last week.
“We would have been very happy if he (Vijayakanth) would have stick to his earlier decision of contesting alone in the polls. It is equal to suicide attempt going there (PWF),” Chandrakumar said.
Chandrasekar, who also accompanied his party MLAs including C H Sekar and Parthiban, made a fervent appeal to Vijayakanth to change his decision immediately otherwise it would be too late for the party to recover.
Also, claiming that more than 95 percent of the DMDK cadres were upset over Vijayakanth’s decision to align with the PWF and favoured an alliance with the DMK, the DMDK legislators said they were at present not quitting the party as they still have respect for “Captain” and that the DMDK party was “sculpted” by them over the years.