ADMK woos TMC for campaign

CHENNAI, JANUARY 31: Having secured the support of the Tamil Maanila Congress TMC to their candidates in the State Assembly by-elections...

CHENNAI, JANUARY 31: Having secured the support of the Tamil Maanila Congress TMC to their candidates in the State Assembly by-elections, the AIADMK has initiated a series of moves to convince TMC president G K Moopanar to undertake a joint campaign with AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha for the polls.

This strategy is aimed at taking the newfound relationship between the two parties to a higher level and cement the ties. The TMC has said that its decision to keep off the by-elections and support the AIADMK candidates is limited to the February 17 by-elections and that its stand for the Assembly polls would be taken later. However, the AIADMK wants the closer ties between the two parties to blossom into an alliance for the Assembly elections slated for next year.

Emissaries of Jayalalitha have been holding discussions with Moopanar in the last two days to work out a joint campaign of AIADMK and TMC leaders in the three constituencies of Tiruchy-II, Nellikuppam and Aranthangi. Two former State ministers and aformer Union minister were reportedly in touch with Moopanar to persuade him to address at least a few meetings with Jayalalitha.

Jayalalitha herself will get at an opportunity to talk to Moopanar in this regard when they participate in a meeting organised by the AIADMK to condole the death of its presidium chairman, V R Nedunchezhiyan, in Chennai on February 2.

If Moopanar does give in to the pressure of the AIADMK and its allies, it would be the first time he would share a political platform with Jayalalitha though the latter made her entry into the political arena nearly 17 years ago. His association with the AIADMK in the mid-eighties was more of a direct contact with late MGR, with whom he enjoyed a close relationship from 1983 until his death in 1987. In fact, Moopanar was said to be the link between MGR and Rajiv Gandhi.

For the AIADMK, Moopanar8217;s joint campaign would give it a boost 8212; not just in the by-elections but in the context of next year8217;s Assembly elections. However, the TMC hasreportedly not made up its mind on the issue of a joint campaign.

One school of thought in the TMC is that it is too early for such a major step as a joint campaign. The TMC would rather allow things to develop slowly after the by-polls when there would be plenty of time to work out strategies.