MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko said he would resign from his Lok Sabha post if the DMK, which has sought his resignation, also ensures that its own MPs step down. He made the statement during an interview in Tiruchirappalli.
Durai Vaiko said his victory from the Tiruchirappalli constituency was possible due to the support of the DMK as well as other alliance partners. He added that if the DMK were to face a fresh election, it would not win even a single MP seat.
He alleged that in the Assembly elections, at least Rs 20 crore was spent per constituency within the DMK alliance, and that spending in some constituencies represented by former ministers went up to Rs 100 crore. Despite this, he claimed, the alliance could not secure victory.
He further said party cadres did not accept the decision by the AIADMK and DMK to form an alliance, and claimed this was why AIADMK MLAs were resigning and joining the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). He also claimed that thousands, including over 150 union secretaries from the DMK, had moved to TVK.
Durai Vaiko said he respects the DMK and leaders such as C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, but alleged that the party’s “power centre” is now in the hands of a few. He also rejected VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan’s view that the DMK and TVK should come together to oppose the BJP, and congratulated Annamalai for holding a first conference under the banner “Bodhai Illa Tamilagam,” while recalling an English proverb about past and future.
