Vaiko holding talks with Premalatha, Sudeesh

Chennai: Talks between People’s Welfare Alliance and DMDK, led by actor Vijayakanth,  seem to be progressing smoothly but alliance is yet to be firmed up.
 According to PWA sources, front’s coordinator and MDMK general secretary Vaiko met Vijayakanth’s wife Premalatha and his brother-in-law L.K. Sudeesh on Monday late evening to discuss modalities of alliance. The meeting took place on the same day when DMK chief M. Karunanidhi claimed that alliance talks between DMK and DMDK were on.

Sources said after Vijayakanth’s declaration that he would lead an alliance, several rounds of discussions were held between leaders of PWA and DMDK. “Mr Vaiko and VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan were holding talks with DMDK leaders Premalatha and Sudeesh. On Sunday after seat sharing talks with PWA leaders in his Anna Nagar residence, Mr Vaiko met DMDK leaders to work out alliance arrangements,” sources added.

Mr Vaiko had himself insisted that their seat-sharing talks are being held keeping in mind the possibility of Vijayakanth’s party joining with them. Sources said that initially the actor was reluctant to join as a member of the PWA and was insisting on four parties to have separate understanding with his party. But PWA insisted that they would remain as a single bloc in seat allocation as well. However, sources said the alliance is yet to be finalised.

Interestingly, there were indication of talks progressing smoothly with Vaiko confirming that PWA leaders are in touch with Vijayakanth. Even CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan citing DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s remark that fruit is ripening said PWA would eat both the fruit and milk indicating that they will win Vijayakanth’s hands.

BJP, which was also keenly running around Vijayakanth’s office and residents to get him back into the NDA fold, seems to have given up if one goes by state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan statement that it was up to the actor turned politician to decide on BJP’s invitation.