DMK forced us to contest in Rising Sun symbol: Vaiko

Chennai: MDMK has joined the list of DMK allies criticising the Dravidian major, fuelling speculation over the future of the party’s alliance. The criticism has come from MDMK general secretary Vaiko who said the party was `forced’ to contest on DMK’s Rising Sun symbol in the assembly election which left its cadres anguished.

The remark comes a day after his son and MP Durai Vaiko expressed regret over MDMK unable to support TVK govt because it `unfortunately’ contested in DMK’s symbol. While other allies like VCK, IUML and the left parties have extended support to TVK govt, MDMK has said that it would decide on the alliance during the party’s June 27 general council. If MDMK chooses to leave alliance, DMK will be left with DMDK alone as its major ally.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai on the sidelines of a protest against Mekedatu dam project, Vaiko said MDMK had little choice during alliance talks. “They forced us both in terms of the number of seats and the symbol. Initially, they insisted that we contest on the Rising Sun symbol in three constituencies. We wanted to contest in our own symbol in one constituency, but towards the end they compelled us to contest on the Rising Sun symbol even in the fourth seat,” he said.

Vaiko also said MDMK was not given adequate number of seats. Without naming the parties, Vaiko said one ally was allotted 28 seats and assured a Rajya Sabha berth (Congress), another was given 10 seats and a Rajya Sabha seat (DMDK), one more got eight seats while two other parties (CPI and CPM) got five each. MDMK was allotted only four seats.

“Only IUML received fewer seats than us. Party workers were deeply anguished. Durai Vaiko reflected the sentiment of our cadres in his speech,” he said.

The remarks come a day after Durai Vaiko met chief minister C Joseph Vijay and greeted him at Trichy. MDMK functionaries said the electoral dependence on DMK has diluted the party’s independent identity, and organisational growth.

While Vaiko stopped short of announcing any immediate break with DMK, he made it clear that the party would undertake a comprehensive review of its future course. “We will not take a hasty decision. We will hear the views of all party functionaries at the general council meeting and decide on the work to be undertaken in the future,” he said.