After a stormy week for dissenters within the DMDK, the rebel MLAs led by Vijayakant’s former chief whip Chandrakumar held a meet at T.Nagar today to launch a ‘Makkal DMDK’ front.
Clarifying that they left the party not because of a grudge against Vijayakant but because of Premalatha’s antics, rebel MLA Parthiban said she had fallen into a trap set by Vaiko.
“Six months back, Jayalalithaa had given Rs.1500 crores to Vaiko to float a new alliance to split votes. We are sure at least Rs. 750 crores was exchanged to break DMDK-DMK alliance. Vaiko simply acted as a political broker,” he alleged, adding, “AIADMK had offered us 15 crore rupees to switch loyalties and harassed us as we spoke against them.”
Calling the PWF an alliance of confusion, Chandrakumar said the alliance had gained importance only after Vijayakant had joined them. “DMDK is failing because of Vijayakant’s indecisiveness and Premalatha’s ill-advised decisions. The contest has always been and always will be between the AIADMK and the DMK. DMDK-PWF will vanish. We are now expecting more district secretaries to join our new front.”
Chandrakumar also openly challenged Vaiko. “We have not taken a single rupee in all of this, can Vaiko, Vijayakant or Premalatha promise the same? Vaiko’s son-in-law has invested Rs.450 crores in a private firm very recently. I'm ready to furnish all the property details of all my family members, but will Vaiko ever do the same?”
Hitting out at Tamil Maanila Congress Chief GK Vasan’s decision to join the front he said it was embarrassing to watch Vasan say he will work to defeat the AIADMK when he was waiting outside Poes Garden for an alliance with the party a few days ago.
Pledging solidarity with the DMK, Chandrakumar said the front was ready to meet Stalin or Karunanidhi if they were called on and contest the elections if they get a chance. “If Vijayakanth rethinks and join DMK, we will follow his lead. Only DMK can bring political change.”
Meanwhile, cracks are also appearing within the TMC. TMC MLA Peter Alphonse, who has been vocal about his displeasure on the party joining the DMDK-PWF front, has quit the party. He had previously spoken out against the alliance to a Tamil news channel, saying the front was not ready to face the elections. “They have been around for barely a few months, and have very little to show for. I do not have faith in this alliance, I never thought that we would be in a position like this.”