DMDK's decision not a setback for us: DMK

Putting up a brave face after his party’s sustained efforts to rope in the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) into its alliance failed, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Treasurer M K Stalin on Friday said the decision of the Vijayakanth-led party to go it alone was not a setback for his party.

“Definitely, it (DMDK decision) is not a setback for us,” he told reporters here replying to a question. Stating that his party chief M Karunanidhi had extended invite to DMDK several times as it would be good (to take on the AIADMK), he said, however, “It is their right to accept or decline the invite.”

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“It is their (DMDK’s) right (to decide). We cannot and will not like to interfere,” he said.

DMDK on Thursday decided to go it alone in the May 16 Assembly polls, which could result in a six-cornered contest with the others being AIADMK front, DMK-Congress, the BJP, four party bloc the People's Welfare Front and Pattali Makkal Katchi. DMDK leader and Vijaykanth's wife Premalatha said parties that seek an alternative to both the AIADMK and DMK were welcome to hold talks with the party chief.

The invite is seen as an olive branch to both the BJP and PWF provided they choose to accept the primacy of DMDK as the senior partner.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit today appeared to continue wooing the DMDK, saying there was need to put up a united front against DMK and AIADMK.

State unit President Tamilisai Sounderrajan said by facing the polls alone, one can realise their strength but there was a need to put up a united front against the Dravidian giants.

"Only as joint forces can we accomplish what we wanted to against the Dravidian parties. If we stand separately, we may realise our strength but the advantage of unity could go waste," she said.

Sounderrajan, whose party had actively wooed actor-politician Vijayakant’s DMDK for an alliance, was responding to his announcement on Thursday.