No uncertainties in tie-up with DMDK, good news soon: AIADMK

Chennai: Asserting that there were no uncertainties regarding a tie-up with actor Vijayakanth-led DMDK for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK on Saturday said there would be good news soon.

The ruling AIADMK, which is in an alliance with the BJP and PMK, has been making all-out efforts to rope in the DMDK. "There are no such uncertainties. In one or two days we will be taking a good decision and will announce happy news (in this regard)," AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam, who is also the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu, told reporters after a meeting at the party headquarters here.

While the AIADMK has concluded its poll deal with the BJP and the PMK for the Lok Sabha polls by allotting five and seven seats in the state to them respectively, talks with the DMDK and other smaller outfits are yet to be formalised.

BJP's Tamil Nadu in-charge and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had gone to DMDK chief Vijayakanth's house last month. Though the meeting between the two leaders was touted to be for an alliance to contest the upcoming general elections, Goyal denied it saying, "Everything in life is not about alliances and politics. There are some personal relationships also."

DMK president MK Stalin had also visited Vijayakanth's residence last month sparking speculation about attempts to forge an alliance with the DMDK. When reporters asked Stalin whether he would welcome DMDK into the DMK-led alliance, he had said, "I appreciate and thank you for your good intentions", but did not elaborate.

The DMK chief had said he did not visit Vijayakanth to discuss politics but to enquire about his health. Top actor Rajinikanth too visited Vijayakanth at his residence to enquire about his health condition.

AIADMK allots one seat to Puthiya Thamilagam

The ruling AIADMK on Saturday signed a poll pact with Puthiya Thamilagam by alloting one parliamentary constituency to it, party Coordinator O Panneerselvam said.

Puthiya Thamilagam President K Krishnaswamy along with his supporters held discussions with the AIADMK seat sharing committee at its party office here.

Emerging after signing an alliance with Krishnaswamy, Panneerselvam, also the Deputy Chief Minister, said a parliamentary constituency has been allotted to Puthiya Thamilagam for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"For the 21 seats that are lying vacant in Tamil Nadu, Puthiya Thamiliagam would extend its support for the AIADMK candidates", he told reporters.

While 18 assembly seats are lying vacant following the disqualification of the dissident MLAs (who owe allegiance to rebel leader MLA TTV Dhinakaran) by the Speaker, three other seats fell vacant following the demise of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in 2018, AIADMK MLA A K Bose (Thiruparankundram) and Hosur constitutency following disqualification of the MLA.

In the 2016 assembly polls, Puthiya Thamilagam unsuccessfully contested four seats by forging an alliance with the DMK under the leadership of M Karunanidhi.

Meanwhile, BJP Tamil Nadu unit President Tamilisai Soundararajan said she was happy that Puthiya Tamilagam has come into the AIADMK-BJP alliance.

AIADMK concluded its poll deal with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) by allotting five and seven seats to them respectively.

Soundararajan expressed hope that the DMDK, led by Vijayakanth, would also join the alliance soon.