LS Poll: DMDK Joins AIADMK-BJP-PMK Alliance In Tami Nadu
AFTER Congress announced finalization of electoral alliance in Tamil Nadu, Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) on Sunday joined the BJP-AIADMK-PMK alliance in the southern state which remains the bastion of regional parties. Both the national parties will play a second fiddle with the regional satraps for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Four Lok Sabha seats have been given to the DMDK from the alliance. On March 4, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met DMDK chief Captain Vijayakanth. On February 19, the AIADMK formally joined the NDA. Under the joint agreement, the BJP will contest five out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The party will also support the AIADMK in the by-polls for 21 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.Another regional party in the fray, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by S Ramadoss, will support the BJP-AIADMK front in the state in the General elections. The party, which has a strong vote base in northern Tamil Nadu, especially among the OBC Vanniyar community, will contest on six Lok Sabha seats, and will be given one Rajya Sabha seat.In will be the first Parliamentary election after several years in the state in the absence of any charismatic Tamil leaders. The elections for 39 Lok Sabha seat are expected to be multi cornered contests with several parties vying for these.