People consider DMDK as an alternative to DMK and AIADMK, he says

Breaking his intriguing silence on the DMDK’s political course of action, its founder Vijayakant on Friday declared that the party would not align with the DMK or the AIADMK in the next Assembly election.

“Today, people consider us the alternative to the Dravidian parties that have ruled Tamil Nadu for close to half a century… I am very clear that we will not align with the DMK or the AIADMK. This is our current position,” Mr. Vijayakant told The Hindu in an exclusive interview here.

While a coming together of the AIADMK and DMDK was ruled out long ago, Mr. Vijayakant’s open disapproval of the DMK has put an end to speculations about the two parties sinking differences to take on the ruling party.

Unlike in 2011, when he joined hands with the AIADMK to defeat the DMK, this time the party is keen on charting its own course.

Accusing the DMK of harbouring corrupt elements, Mr. Vijayakant declared that his party did not have faith in DMK president M. Karunanidhi and much less in its treasurer M.K. Stalin.

Not sparing the PMK, he made it clear that there was no question of backing its chief ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss.

But he did not shut the doors on the People’s Welfare Front that comprises the MDMK, VCK and the Left parties. Though the DMDK’s vote share has declined in recent years, the actor-turned-politician insisted that his base is intact.