DMK's grand alliance plan hits roadblock

CHENNAI: DMK's grand plan to forge a larger alliance, comprising the opposition parties, to take on the ruling AIADMK in the 2016 assembly election seems to have hit a few roadblocks. DMK chief M Karunanidhi and his son M K Stalin have been trying to consolidate the opposition, but have received lukewarm response so far.
Recently, Stalin had indicated his keenness to form a front to hold protests and agitations against various `anti-people' measure in the run-up to the assembly polls.
While DMDK has preferred to project itself as a third alternative, in BJP's company, the Left parties have indicated uneasiness about teaming up with the 2G-tainted DMK.
CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan said his party had not held discussions on the assembly election yet. “Both CPI and CPM have decided to work together. We have decided to launch a movement against corruption and neo-liberalization policies. We will also take up livelihood issues of people,“ Ramakrishnan told TOI.
DMDK leader Vijayakanth made it clear at a recent meeting that his party would prefer an alternative alliance against DMK and AIADMK. “Captain (Vijayakanth) has informed district secretaries he would not align with DMK. He said both DMK and AIADMK are corrupt parties and that we would be an alternative to both,” said a DMDK district secretary .
The DMDK leader also pointed out that Vijayakanth continued to maintain good rapport with BJP. “He prefers to contest the 2016 assembly election in TN with BJP, but as the major partner,” he said.
DMK sources said they received positive signals only from MDMK and PMK. “We were told Vaiko was very happy about Stalin's remarks about him in a recent interview to a Tamil news channel,” a close associate of Stalin said. And, DMK has warmly reciprocated to PMK's recent overtures. However, ally VCK appeared unhappy about DMK's bonhomie toward PMK, given the caste enmity between the dalit and vanniyar parties.
Political observers point out that DMK has not been successful in even organizing a joint opposition protest against milk price hike and a proposed hike in power tariff. But DMK leaders are hopeful of strengthening the alliance in the coming days.