Wait gets longer for DMDK

TIRUCHY: Actor Vijaykanth’s DMDK is still waiting for an invitation from the AIADMK to hold talks for seat-sharing in the local body polls as it does not want to make a hasty decision, without clearly knowing the mind of the AIADMK leadership. Though, the party is upset with the AIADMK’s announcement of candidates for all the 10 Mayor seats and 52 municipalities, it hopes that the list is not final.The party is still in the process of receiving applications from aspiring partymen and feels that it is not necessary to take a decision immediately. Since, the poll dates has not been announced, the party feels that there is sufficient time to arrive at a decision and it will not be difficult to identify candidates for the Mayor or municipal chairman seats.The DMDK will also want to watch the ongoing talks between the Left parties and the AIADMK and see how it proceeds. There is a possibility of the DMDK getting invited after talks with the Communist parties reach the final stage of agreement. If the negotiations with the Left parties fail, the DMDK will have an option of forming an alliance with the comrades too. The Congress is another party which the DMDK can consider for an alliance. However, the Left leaders, especially the CPI is more keen for an alliance with the AIADMK, than forming another front.Last time, during the Assembly elections, when the AIADMK announced its list of candidates for 160 constituencies, the Communist leaders rushed to the DMDK’s office and considered forming a third front. This time, they have shown much refrain and initiated talks with the AIADMK itself, indicating that their first preference is a tie-up with the AIADMK.In the 2006 local body polls, the DMDK neither won a Mayor seat nor finish in the second spot may be weighing in the minds of the AIADMK leaders. However, the latter feels that the party’s vote share has gone up considerably now.