Vijayakanth as CM candidate a natural decision, not a compromise: Vaiko speaks to TNM

Vaiko said the first talks on an alliance with the DMDK began 8 months ago.
Vijayakanth as CM candidate a natural decision, not a compromise: Vaiko speaks to TNM
Vijayakanth as CM candidate a natural decision, not a compromise: Vaiko speaks to TNM

Just a day after announcing the DMDK-PWF alliance, DMDK Chief Vaiko spoke to The News Minute on declaration of Vijayakanth as CM candidate and the game plan of the alliance.

Vaiko said the first talks on alliance began 8 months ago. “Vijayakanth and I were taking the same flight, and while I was discussing the DMK causing a rift within our party and three partymen leaving, Vijayakanth was assuring, slamming the DMK and Stalin. He said, on any account, he will not go to the DMK. And that was when talk of a third front first emerged.”

He said it was on and off, with Vijayakanth being wooed from all ends. “Our plan is truly focused on putting an end to the DMK-AIADMK rule that the people suffer under. We knew that the state needed a strong third front.” As for the decision on Vijayakanth as Chief Ministerial candidate, he said it was his move to refuse an alliance with the DMK that had changed it all. “When he said no to the DMK and stood his ground right from the conversation we had 8 months ago, we knew he was a man of honesty and integrity. And that helped move the alliance forward.”

Asked if he felt that the majority of seats going to the DMDK along with the plump chief ministerial candidacy was a significant compromise on the part of the PWF, he said it was a natural decision and not a compromise. “Our principles aligned. Vijayakanth wants a corruption-free government, and so do we. He wants to end the corrupt AIADMK rule, and so do we. We want to give the people a transparent government. I am not interested in the post.”

While the DMDK will contest in 124 seats, the PWF will contest in 110 seats.

The PWF, consists mainly of four parties- Vaiko’s MDMK, VCK, CPI and CPI (M). Leaders of the alliance who have been actively campaigning all over the state had met Vijayakanth in December 2015, but the DMDK leader had not given any assurance then.

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