Tamil Nadu: Eye on chief minister’s chair, AIADMK, DMK to fight 50 per cent Lok Sabha seats

CHENNAI: Though the DMDK is yet to announce its decision about being part of the AIADMK-led coalition, the two Dravidian majors — AIADMK and the DMK — are set to contest in just 50% of the 40

Lok Sabha

seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The allies have never had it so good on both sides since 1998.


The key factor seems to be the 21 assembly segments that are likely to face bypolls along with the Lok Sabha elections. While the ruling AIADMK, surviving with a feeble majority, is keen on retaining power in the state for the rest of its term, the opposition DMK is sensing an opportunity to grab power in the state after nearly eight years.

Though the poll schedule is yet to be out, both the AIADMK and the DMK teams will tune into poll mode on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the NDA campaign in Tamil Nadu with a rally in Chennai, and the DMK commencing campaign from

Virudhunagar

at its south zonal conference.

In the AIADMK-led alliance, the ruling party has given away seven seats to the PMK and five to the BJP.

‘AIADMK left with just 20 seats to field its candidates’

In addition, it has given one seat each to Puthiya Thamizhagam and A C Shanmugham’s New Justice Party, thereby apportioning 14 out of 39 seats to allies.

“Of the remaining 25, at least five seats will go to DMDK (4) and TMC (1), if they come on board. That leaves only 20 seats for AIADMK to field its candidates. We needed a formidable alliance to have a go at the 21 assembly segments, to retain power in the state, especially since DMK too is keen to grab them,” an AIADMK leader told TOI.

If eventually AIADMK gets to contest only in 20, that will be the least number of seats the party will contest in a parliamentary election since 1998. Over the last five Lok Sabha elections, AIADMK had contested in at least 23 seats thrice, while contesting in 33 and 39 seats in 2004 and 2014 respectively. “The absence of a tall leader, who can sway the masses, is clearly felt. In 2014, it was Amma’s chemistry with the people that got the party a tally of 37 seats. Since there is no chemistry now, the party is depending on alliance arithmetic,” said AIADMK Rajya Sabha member V Maitreyan.

In the opposition front, after giving away 19 seats to allies, the DMK is left with just 20 seats for it to field its candidates.

It is still better off, since the party had contested only in17 seats in 1998, 19 in 1999,16 in 2004 and 22 in 2009. Only in 2014, it got to contest in 34 seats, but it ended up netting zero.

“Ever since regional parties started getting a share in power at the Centre, the focus has been to cobble up a strong alliance in the state, barring 2014. But 2019 is different,” said political analyst M Kasinathan.

“While pressure is on AIADMK to retain power in the state as well as push for some say at the Centre, DMK too will be eyeing a chance to grab power in the state through the by-polls and a favourable government at the Centre will help,” he said.