DMDK chief Captain Vijayakant announced on Thursday he would go it alone in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls after weeks of speculation on the small-but-significant party’s moves before a close election.
The announcement is a big blow to the DMK that was desperately wooing the DMDK, as Vijaykant’s 8% vote share would have bolstered the opposition party’s chances and given it momentum.
“I now clearly announce that i will contest alone,” Vijayakant said at a public meeting at Royapettah in Chennai to loud cheers.
“In my previous meeting at Kancheepuram I had asked the people if they wanted to see me as the king or the kingmaker. You all have wanted me to be the king, which is why the DMDK will go it alone in the assembly polls.”
By going alone, the DMDK is sure to split the anti-AIADMK vote and help chief minister J Jayalalithaa, said professor Ramu Manivannan of Madras University.
He said back-channel talks were going on between the AIADMK and DMDK, quoting feedback he received from some candidates who applied for MLA seats in the ruling party.
The announcement is a big blow to the DMK that was desperately wooing the DMDK, as Vijaykant’s 8% vote share would have bolstered the opposition party’s chances and given it momentum.
“I now clearly announce that i will contest alone,” Vijayakant said at a public meeting at Royapettah in Chennai to loud cheers.
“In my previous meeting at Kancheepuram I had asked the people if they wanted to see me as the king or the kingmaker. You all have wanted me to be the king, which is why the DMDK will go it alone in the assembly polls.”
By going alone, the DMDK is sure to split the anti-AIADMK vote and help chief minister J Jayalalithaa, said professor Ramu Manivannan of Madras University.
He said back-channel talks were going on between the AIADMK and DMDK, quoting feedback he received from some candidates who applied for MLA seats in the ruling party.