The DMDK would contest from Tiruvallur (SC), Central Chennai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur and Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituencies.
Published Mar 20, 2024 | 8:21 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 20, 2024 | 8:22 PM
Edappadi K Palaniswami. (File pic/EPSTamilnadu/Facebook)
Tamil Nadu’s main Opposition party AIADMK on Wednesday, 20 March, finalised seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha polls with allies the DMDK, the SDPI and the Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT).
The party also announced its candidates for 16 constituencies for the 19 April Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.
Announcing the electoral pacts at the party headquarters in Chennai, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) said the DMDK would contest from the Tiruvallur (SC), Central Chennai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituencies.
The PT has been allocated the Tenkasi constituency and the SDPI the Dindigul segment, Palaniswami said.
The poll pacts were signed with DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, PT chief K Krishansamy, and the SDPI’s state unit chief Nellai Mubarak.
On DMK making several assurances in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, EPS asked if the ruling party had fulfilled promises made ahead of the 2019 Parliamentary election and the 2021 Assembly polls.
“How many assurances has the DMK fulfilled? Ahead of the (2021) Assembly polls, the DMK had repeatedly affirmed that once it captured power it would scrap NEET for Tamil Nadu. Three years have gone by. However, the assurance has not been fulfilled,” EPS said.
Though the DMK has 38 MPs in the outgoing Lok Sabha, they did not exert pressure on the Centre to get NEET annulled. “That is why we say that people of Tamil Nadu will not get any benefit even if they (DMK) win elections,” EPS, the former chief minister, said.
For the DMDK, which was founded by actor-politician ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth in 2005, this would be the first election the party is set to fight after his death on 28 December last year.
His wife and DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth described the AIADMK as a “natural ally.” She said that a “big victory alliance”, like the one ahead of the 2011 Assembly polls, has been formed again.
“This victory alliance will continue in the 2026 Assembly polls also,” she revealed.
When DMDK aligned with the AIADMK in 2011, history was created with the alliance sweeping the polls. While J Jayalalithaa became the chief minister, Vijayakanth got the post of the leader of the Opposition, she said.
2011 was a watershed moment for the DMDK, when it won 29 seats as part of the AIADMK-led alliance, pushing DMK to the third spot in the Assembly as it managed to secure only 23. This enabled Vijayakanth to become the leader of the Opposition.
Earlier in the day, the AIADMK had named the first set of 16 candidates.
EPS exuded confidence that the AIADMK-led alliance would sweep the polls. The party, which had faced the elections by itself in 2014, had won 37 of the 39 seats in the state, he recalled and said it was capable of repeating the performance.
The Opposition party named candidates for 16 seats, including North Chennai, South Chennai, Arakkonam, Kancheepuram and Villpuram, both reserved constituencies, among others.
Former MP J Jayavardhan and ex-MLA Dr P Saravanan were among the candidates announced by the AIADMK.
Others include various senior office-bearers of the party.
(With PTI inputs)
