In a much expected political development, TN assembly MLA and film star Sarath Kumar recently broke his ties with the ruling AIADMK, the party with which he has been in alliance since the 2011 elections.
The founder of the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi told the media on Monday that while he does not blame the AIADMK for the split, he thought they could have done better.
Sarath Kumar’s bitter end with Jayalalithaa comes as no surprise, with AIADMK not backing him during the recent film artiste association elections. Sarath’s photo-op with DMK’s MK Stalin at an event in Kanyakumari recently also raised eyebrows, and is said to have precipitated the break up.
But, what lies ahead for the small time MLA from the Nadar community? He does not have a large voter base, and his party is a small outfit amidst the Dravidian behemoths.
Speaking to The News Minute, Sarath Kumar says that they are keeping their options open. “We have decided to wait, we are going to concentrate on what is best for the party and we will take a decision in ten days.”
Sarath Kumar perhaps realizes that this isn’t just about the 2016 assembly polls. “We are also concentrating on the long-term goals of the party,” he says.
Sources in the party say that he is open to all alliances, but where he could find a place for himself depends on the larger political formations. If no other major party joins the DMK, he could see a window of opportunity there, say political watchers.
Earlier, Sarath Kumar created ripples by shaking hands with DMK treasurer MK Stalin in the flagging off of Kumari Ananthan’s prohibition march. The march was categorically supported by the DMK and the PWF, which have been opposed to the AIADMK.
Sarath Kumar began at the DMK, where he rose to become a Rajya Sabha MP in 2001, but quit the party due to ‘dynasty politics’. He then floated the AISMK and then struck an alliance with the AIADMK. But after multiple snubs by the party, the strength of the alliance has dwindled. Most recently, his fervent campaigning during the fiercely fought Nadigar Sangam elections had not worked in his favour.