R K Nagar bypoll: After over a decade, MDMK to support DMK

December 03, 2017 16:50

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko today announced his party's support to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the R K Nagar assembly bypoll scheduled on December 21, the first such gesture after over a decade.

After a high-level party meet in Chennai, Vaiko said his party has unanimously decided to support the DMK in the by-election.

"It is a well thought-out decision considering the interests of Tamil Nadu and the Dravidian movement," he told reporters.

Asked if the alliance will continue, he said, "This can be taken as a starting point" in view of the cordial atmosphere between the two parties.

Vaiko further said, "There is a need to teach a lesson to the AIADMK regime which has lost the trust of the people."

He hit out at the BJP-led centre over "Hindutva and weakening federalism" besides lashing out at the ruling party for hobnobbing with the saffron party.

DMK working president M K Stalin welcomed the decision, saying when all opposition parties were joining hands with it to end "this horse-trading regime," the MDMK has done its part.

The MDMK's decision to support the DMK comes after recent meetings between Vaiko and DMK working president M K Stalin.

Also, Vaiko recently had met DMK chief and former mentor M Karunanidhi at the latter's Gopalapuram residence.

Karunanidhi, who was ill for about a year and confined to his residence is now recuperating following treatment.

The MDMK, which was part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, parted ways from it to support late J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK in the 2006 assembly election.

Vaiko had been detained under the now defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act by the then AIADMK regime in July 2002. After spending about 19 months in prison, he was released in February 2004.

He was arrested for allegedly making pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam speeches. The Vaiko-led party had last fought the 2004 Parliamentary election in the DMK-led front. -- PTI

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