PMK-AIADMK pact cause of concern for DMK

PMK's decision to go the AIADMK way in the Lok Sabha polls and DMDK ruling out an alliance with any party is a cause of concern for the DMK-Congress combine, especially in northern Tamil Nadu, given the strength of these parties in the region.

After keeping the Congress on tenterhooks for more than a month, the S Ramadoss-led PMK had yesterday announced its decision to quit the UPA and join the AIADMK combine and cited humiliation from DMK as the reason for the decision.

The PMK, which has a vote share of nearly 7 per cent, has considerable clout among the dominant Vanniyar community and the factor will help the AIADMK combine, which also includes MDMK and Left parties, in Thiruvallur, Tindivanam, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Krishnagiri districts and some pockets of Thirupatthur, Chidambaram and Salem areas in northern Tamil Nadu.

In fact, the PMK came into existence in 1989 after the Vanniyar Sangam led by S Ramadoss organised protest march and rallies across Tamil Nadu demanding Most Backward Class status for the Vannia community members.

Political observers say the AIADMK-PMK alliance will help the Jayalalithaa-led party win more number of seats than its rival DMK Front, which scored centum in the past elections.

While the PMK has a significant support base in northern part of the state, much of southern Tamil Nadu is AIADMK's bastion since the party was formed in the early 70s by legendary actor M G Ramachandran.

Southern Tamil Nadu sends more than 18 MPs to Parliament, while the northern region has more than 15 Lok Sabha seats.

"Jayalalithaa stands to gain in the new alliance because her strength is mainly in the southern districts and the PMK's strength is in northern part. So, this combination of strength will be quite welcome to her," noted journalist and political commentator Cho Ramasamy says.

In the last elections, PMK won Arakonam, Chengalpattu, Chidambaram, Tindivanam, Dharmapuri and Puducherry Lok Sabha seats. This time, the party is likely to contest an extra seat in the northern belt.

They say the PMK's decision was prompted by the ground level distrust between its cadres and those from the DMK after the two parties parted ways in June 2008.