The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), founded by late actor Vijayakanth, on Thursday joined the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, ending weeks of speculation. The party led by Vijayakanth’s wife Premalatha has joined hands with the AIADMK for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
TDP general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth held talks with both major alliances before making the call to join the ruling coalition, people familiar with the matter said. The BJP, a key ally of the AIADMK, criticized the DMDK, saying it had boarded a “sinking ship”.
This is the first time since the party’s formation in 2005 that the DMDK has allied with the DMK. Premalatha met Prime Minister and KDP chief M K Stalin at Anna Arivalayam, the ruling party’s headquarters in Chennai, on Thursday morning, ending speculation that had been going on for months.
“I am overjoyed that the DMDK, founded by ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth, who had unwavering love for Kalaignar (late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi) and was my dear friend, has joined the Secular Progressive Alliance,” Stalin said in a post on X, where he shared photos of the meeting.
Alliance talks between the two parties failed ahead of the 2016 Assembly elections and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to reporters, Premlata said the DMDK joined the DMK-led alliance after listening to party supporters. “This alliance should have been formed in 2016. But after a delay of 10 years, we have joined the DMK alliance,” she added.
A senior DMK leader said they discussed sharing six to 10 seats with the DMDK. “It will mostly be eight seats and one Rajya Sabha seat,” the functionary said.
Although the DMDK’s influence has weakened over the years (the party failed to win any of the 60 seats it contested in the 2021 state polls), its addition to the SPA is likely to help the alliance garner support from the Premalatha community, the Naickers, as well as voters who continue to vote for the late actor’s legacy.
Tamil Nadu is scheduled to go to legislative elections in April and May.
The BJP criticized the DMDK for what it called a “betrayal” of Vijayakanth’s legacy.
“It is sad that his family is abandoning Vijayakanth’s legacy,” said Narayanan Thirupathi, BJP state vice president.
“As far as I am concerned, they (DMDK) have boarded a sinking ship. Invoking the captain’s legacy, they have forced their cadres to act as captain of a ship that is already sinking,” BJP leader Tamilisai Sunderrajan told reporters in Vellore.
