As Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) scrambles to secure allies and form a government in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has opened backchannel talks with its long-time rival, the AIADMK, sources told India Today TV, in a rare move between two parties that have traditionally defined the state’s political rivalry.
AIADMK sources confirmed that discussions have taken place, though there was no official word yet on any breakthrough. The big question now is whether the DMK is willing to come on board in what would be an unprecedented shift in Tamil Nadu’s politics. The DMK got 59 seats, while the AIADMK managed 47 in the April 23 Assembly polls.
But there’s a catch: even if the DMK and AIADMK join hands, their combined 106 MLAs would still fall short of enough numbers to govern. The majority mark is 118. So, both parties would need smaller parties for support if the reported alliance talks materialise.
For those unversed, the AIADMK was formed in 1972 after MG Ramachandran, or MGR, was expelled from the DMK by then-president M Karunanidhi following disputes over the party’s corruption allegations. The split set the stage for the decades-long rivalry between the two Dravidian parties which defined Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
Further fuelling the buzz of a possible DMK-AIADMK tie-up, DMK leader SAS Hafeezullah tweeted, “The news you’re about to hear will be good for Tamil Nadu and for democracy.”
TVK STAKES CLAIM, BUT A TWIST OCCURS
In a dramatic twist earlier today, Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar to stake claim but was asked to return with proof of 118 MLAs, as sources said he submitted support letters of only 112 MLAs. Though he has the backing of the Congress, which has five legislators, Vijay reportedly conveyed this orally and later sought time to shore up numbers.
The TVK, which won 108 of 234 seats in a stunning debut, remains 10 short of the majority mark, with allies yet to firmly commit. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), seen as a potential kingmaker, has cancelled its scheduled meeting on Thursday to decide its stand, amid shifting political signals.
The Left parties – Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India – have deferred their decision to May 8 and are yet to extend support. Both they and the VCK are part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, with sources indicating the DMK remains confident they will not switch sides.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Left parties had earlier declined TVK’s outreach, while fresh buzz of backchannel talks between the DMK and AIADMK appears to have prompted smaller parties like the VCK to hold back for now.
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