Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2016: Vijayakanth's DMDK to contest solo, says he'll be king instead of kingmaker

Chennai: After keeping alliance aspirants on tenterhooks, actor-turned politician Vijayakanth on Thursday said his party DMDK would go it alone in the 16 May Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, belying the hopes of DMK, BJP and the four-party bloc PWF. “I am making it clear that Vijayakanth (DMDK) is going to fight elections alone,” he said to a thunderous applause from the gathering at the party’s women’s wing meet in Chennai. The declaration by DMDK came against the background of sustained efforts by the DMK, BJP and People’s Welfare Front PWF (comprising MDMK, VCK and CPI(M) and CPI) to rope in the Vijayakanth-led party into their fold. [caption id=“attachment_2665170” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of actor-turned politician Vijayakanth.[/caption] It also has firmed up the election scenario in Tamil Nadu which looks set for a multi-cornered contest among AIADMK, DMK-Cong combine, BJP, PWF and DMDK. DMDK was part of BJP-led NDA in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and the saffron party was hoping to retain it in its alliance for the assembly elections. Ridiculing speculation in the media about which alliance the DMDK would choose, he asked, “Why are you worried?” Citing some media reports that claimed “bargain was going on (by DMDK) with potential allies,” he said, “I did not bargain with anyone (party).” Thanking all the political parties who sought an electoral tie-up with him, he categorically said that DMDK would face the elections alone. “I am (DMDK) standing alone in elections,” he said. Explaining the background to the party decision, he said his partymen were confused when TV channels owing allegiance to select political parties aired views according to their whims and fancies on the probable decision of the DMDK. A seven-member party panel would choose DMDK candidates for the assembly election, he said. Recalling his interaction with party workers in Kancheepuram last month, when he was asked whether he should be kingmaker or king (to which they said he should be the King), he said the DMDK would fight elections alone. Stating that he was leading his partymen in the right direction, he said only his partymen had the right to question him on choosing electoral-tie-up and asserted that he need not answer the media in this regard. Founded in 2005, DMDK fought the 2011 Assembly elections as an ally of the ruling AIADMK and later fell out with it. PTI