Deadlock in DMDK-DMK talks continues

Deadlock in the talks between the DMK and the DMDK, led by actor Vijayakant, continued on Thursday with the latter refusing to accept the offer by the former for three seats for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls due in May.

Sources said the talks are unlikely to succeed and the DMDK might lean towards the AIADMK which is understood to have offered an additional Rajya Sabha seat.

The ‘secret talks’ between the DMK and DMDK held over the past few days remain inconclusive, sources in both parties said, adding that a clear picture would emerge by Saturday. “We offered three seats to DMDK, but their expectation was much more in terms of seats and other aspects. It is deadlocked,” a senior DMK leader told DH.

He also said the DMK was not inclined to offer more than three seats since it has to distribute a few more seats among other alliance partners. The DMK has already allotted 10 seats to the Congress and will share another six to eight seats among existing alliance partners like MDMK, Left and VCK before keeping 20 to 22 seats for itself.

With its talks with DMK deadlocked, the DMDK has gone back to the AIADMK for negotiating an “acceptable deal”. Sources said the AIADMK is now offering 3 Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seat for the DMDK, which is a “good deal” for Vijayakant's party.

"This is the final offer that we can make. We have made it and now it is for the DMDK to take a call,” an AIADMK leader said. DMDK leaders said a final decision will be taken by Saturday. DMDK was talking to the AIADMK and BJP for an alliance but the DMK also tried when the talks between the three parties hit a deadlock.

The DMDK, which polled 2.5% of votes in the 2016 assembly elections, contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in an alliance with BJP.