Is Vijayakanth-led DMDK heading for a split?

Ten district secretaries and 5 law makers of DMDK question their leader's decision to join hands with MNK for upcoming state Assembly elections

In an another setback for actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), 10 district secretaries and five lawmakers of the party said aligning with Makkal Nala Kootani (MNK) or People Welfare Front (PWF) for the upcoming state elections is a bad decision. And that instead, the party should be joining forces with DMK.

DMDK's propaganda secretary and lawmaker V C Chandrakumar said that the decision to align with MNK (People Welfare Front) was taken without consulting officer bearers and party cadre.

"We told our leader that DMDK should align with DMK if we have to defeat AIADMK," said Chandrakumar, who gave the party leadership till tomorrow to reconsider the decision of aligning with MNK.

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It may be noted, during 2011 Assembly election DMDK joined hands with AIADMK and contested in 41 seats, of which it had won 29 seats, becoming the second largest single party. DMK, which contested in 124 seats, won 23 seats. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, DMDK was part of BJP-led NDA, but didn't win a single seat.

On March 23, Vijayakanth announced his decision to join with MNK- a combination of two communist parties, Dalit party VCK and Vaiko-led MDMK. This was announced after MNK leaders agreed that Vijayakanth will be the Chief Ministerial candidate.

As per the deal sealed DMDK will contest in 124 seats of the 234-member assembly.

Chandrakumar said 95% members of the party are in favour of an alliance with DMK. "The decision to align with AIADMK in 2011 assembly elections was in line with the party cadre wish. Today the situation has reversed," he said.

It may be noted, today's development comes at a time several functionaries are quitting DMDK to join DMK for the last few days. Deputy Secretary of DMDK's Farmers Wing from Cuddalore V C Shanmugam and four others from the district joined the DMK in the presence of party treasurer M K Stalin.

Besides, more than 50 members of DMDK from Tiruvallore, including its youth wing leader S B Somasundaram, quit the party and joined the DMK fold.

The desertions started with DMDK North Chennai District Secretary Yuvaraj who quit the party and joined DMK in the presence of its chief M Karunanidhi. This was followed up by DMDK's Kanyakumari District (West) Secretary Dinesh who embraced DMK on Sunday.

Both Yuvaraj and Dinesh had said that they decided to shift their loyalty after DMDK refused to join hands with DMK to contest the  Assembly polls.