Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Feb 19: Ending weeks of political speculation, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) on Thursday formally joined the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) ahead of the upcoming electoral battle in Tamil Nadu.
DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth and party treasurer L.K. Sudish met Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, who is also president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam in Chennai, formally sealing the alliance.
Senior leaders from both parties, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, were present during the meeting.
Founded in 2005 by actor-politician Vijayakanth, the DMDK has never previously aligned with the DMK and had, over the years, joined hands with rival political formations. This marks the first time the DMDK has entered into an alliance with the DMK.
In a post on X, Stalin welcomed the DMDK into the SPA, stating that the “bond of goodwill would continue to contribute to the progress and prosperity of Tamil Nadu.”
“It brings me immense joy that the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), founded by ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth, a man who held unwavering love for Muthamizh Arignar leader Kalaignar and was my dear friend, has today joined the secular progressive alliance,” Stalin said.
Speaking to reporters, Premalatha Vijayakanth said the decision to align with the DMK-led alliance was taken in accordance with the wishes of party cadres. Referring to earlier discussions, she noted that talks had taken place as far back as 2016 but the alliance materialised only now.
“It should have happened when Captain Vijayakanth was alive, but it is happening after a delay of 10 years and we would work to win more than 200 seats,” she said.
Sources within the DMK indicated that negotiations had intensified in recent weeks, focusing on seat-sharing arrangements and the allocation of one Rajya Sabha seat.
“It was decided that the party would get a Rajya Sabha seat in the upcoming election, apart from the seats to contest in the Assembly election. The Assembly seats will be finalised during seat-sharing talks by a committee to be formed by the leadership,” a DMK source said.
The DMDK contested the 2006 and 2009 elections independently before aligning with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 2011, a move that helped it secure a notable presence in the Assembly. In 2014, it joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The party later became part of the People’s Welfare Alliance in 2016. It returned to the AIADMK fold in 2019 and again in 2024, while contesting the 2021 Assembly polls in alliance with the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).