Chennai: The inimitable D. Jayakumar insists his AIADMK is close to completing its poll coalition. He has even said a few from the rival DMK camp are 'secretly' talking to his party. And he also addressed the most exciting topic these days-the fate of negotiations with the difficult DMDK-expressing confidence that the party would also join in.
But sources say some of his party colleagues have been concerned over reports trickling out of the rival DMK camp that Captain is all set to sign up for four Lok Sabha seats, plus a Rajya Sabha seat for wife Premalatha. It appears that Jayakumar's flashy quip on Monday-"It will be good if they (DMDK) come but if they don't, that's ok"-annoyed Captain's camp and might have contributed to some extent to the party choosing the DMK. Also, the AIADMK has been unwilling to offer more than three LS seats to the DMDK.
The DMK too has its serious limitations on seat-allotment, more so after its generous gifting of ten seats to the Congress despite the national party's dismal presence in the state. The coalition's captain still has to address the ambitions of the other allies--VCK, MDMK, IUML and the two Left parties-and sources say he has sought time from them since the DMDK deal "is just round the corner".
The difference in vote share between the AIADMK and the DMK in the 2016 Assembly elections was a mere 1.03 per cent though the former bagged 134 seats and formed the government while the DMK fell short by 36 seats. Stalin's experts at poll arithmetic have told him the DMK would be able to make up this 1.03 per cent shortfall by just tying up with the DMDK that showed 2.41 per cent vote share in the last polls.
Sources said the DMK chief accepted the argument, notwithstanding that this is a Parliament poll whereas the 2016 score-card related to State elections. It is said that he has tossed the DMDK demand to the Congress court, asking it to 'release' two seats from its kitty for Captain's party. "It would make sense for the Congress to concede and do its best to rope in the DMDK as that would strengthen the public perception theirs is a mega alliance and a winning combine", said a DMK functionary, requesting anonymity.
While the Congress is mulling over the DMK proposal, the AIADMK appears almost reconciled to losing Captain to the rival camp, notwithstanding the confident claims of party convener O Panneerselvam and D Jayakumar. "It's his wife who is doing all the talking and she is pitching her demands too high", said an AIADMK leader.
