Will Captain Vijayakanth-PWA seal poll deal?

Chennai: After DMDK’s declaration five days ago to lead an alliance in the  coming Assembly elections, there is a lull in the activities of Opposition parties which still await the decision of DMDK leader Vijayakanth on joining hands with People’s Welfare Alliance.

Amid media reports that Vijayakanth is keen to include MDMK and VCK along with BJP in the alliance led by him, leaders of  PWA have made it clear that they would not join an alliance that includes BJP.  Besides, the Left parties stand against BJP is well known.

MDMK leader Vaiko and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan too denied reports they would quit PWA to join hands with an alliance comprising  BJP.

DMDK functionaries deny that Vijayakanth  had made any decision on alliance and insist that media reports on his initiative to form a mega alliance comprising BJP, MDMK and VCK are only rumours. Vijayakanth is busy selecting candidates for all the 234 constituencies, since he wants to release the list immediately after making a decision on alliance, they said.

The DMDK leader’s statement strongly condemning the honour killing of Dalit youth Sankar at Udumalpet has raised  hopes of People’s Welfare Alliance which is the only front which has come out in the open against caste chauvinism , while major Dravidian parties like  AIADMK and DMK are silent. While PMK has chosen to treat it as a law and order issue, Vijayakanth is the only other leader who has condemned caste chauvinism behind the incident and lashed out at the casteist mindset quoting poet Subramania  Bharati.

The PWA leaders have renewed their appeals in public and hoped that he would join with them to defeat DMK and AIADMK. But, they have not tried to meet the actor in person and are waiting for an invitation from DMDK leader himself. It is said they do not want to irritate Vijayakanth by frequent meetings with him without knowing his mind. Even Vijayakanth’s arch rival, PMK seems to be waiting for the actor’s decision. The PMK is continuing negotiations with BJP and is awaiting its decision. But, the BJP is still hopeful that Vijayakanth may join with it.