PWA's patience with Captain Vijayakanth wearing thin

Chennai: DMDK leader Vijayakanth’s silence to repeated invitation of People’s Welfare Alliance and the assertion of BJP leaders that they will contest alone has given a ray of hope for DMK which sees a remote possibility of the actor reconsidering ties with the party.

Even if the actor did not come to the DMK fold, his isolation will ensure a six-cornered contest in the May 16 Assembly elections. In such a fight, none of the other fronts could come near the DMK, reinforcing the idea in people’s minds that the party is the only challenge and alternative to ruling AIADMK.

After last week’s announcement to lead a front, Vijayakanth is keeping his cards close to his chest, while PWA and BJP leaders are making various remarks on alliance formation. Leaders of People’s Welfare Alliance who renewed their invitation to the actor, want him to clarify if BJP will be part of Vijayakanth-led alliance.

In a statement on Saturday,  Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan made it clear that PWA constituents would not join a front in which BJP is a partner. While the DMK is enjoying the discomfort of PWA leaders in forging ties with Vijayakanth, leaders of the four-party front allege that the DMK is planting stories in the media,  wrongly interpreting the statements of PWA leaders. Some reports had claimed that MDMK leader Vaiko and CPI leaders are averse to Vijayakanth taking up the leadership position in PWA.

Thirumavalavan, who denied media reports that PWA leaders are not opposed to the idea of Vijayakanth leading their front, said,  “We are open to considering Vijayakanth as the leader of the alliance as well as the Chief Ministerial candidate”.

At a time when PWA is finding it tough to get a reaction from Vijayakanth, the BJP, fatigued over running behind him to forge an alliance, had come out with declarations to go it alone in the polls. Since, most functionaries in DMDK do not want to contest alone, DMK leaders are hopeful of Vijayakanth reconsidering ties with the party.

DMK leaders are refraining from sharp attacks on Vijayakanth and party’s organising secretary T.K.S. Elangovan said the DMK would always welcome DMDK, which also wants to defeat AIADMK. TNCC president  E.V.K.S. Elangovan also said they would welcome Vijayakanth if he wants to join the DMK-Congress alliance.

A DMK functionary said “We need not attack Vijayakanth now as the doors for him are still open”. But, he also clarified that the DMK is not holding talks with Vijayakanth at the moment, but wanted him to open channels of communication.