Kanimozhi files nomination,party hunts for RS numbers

The DMK walked out of the UPA over the Sri Lankan issue in March

DMK chief M Karunanidhis daughter Kanimozhi on Saturday filed her nomination papers for re-election to the Rajya Sabha.

Unlike last time,her party is short by 11 seats to ensure her victory,making this the first real election for the journalist-turned-politician in her short career.

Sources in the DMK said the Congress,which has five MLAs,has promised support,indicating a mending of ties between the two parties ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The DMK walked out of the UPA over the Sri Lankan issue in March.

The DMK,sources said,is also in talks with the PMK which has three MLAs and the two-member Manithaneya Makkal Katchi. Talks are at an advanced stage and we hope to get their support, a senior DMK leader said.

Elections are being held for six Rajya Sabha seats which fell vacant and each candidate needs 34 first preference votes to win.

After the drubbing in the 2011 Assembly election,the DMK was reduced to just 23 MLAs. All of them,including her brother M K Stalin,accompanied Kanimozhi as she filed her nomination.

Kanimozhi said she was confident of winning even as her father worked behind the scenes the fetch the votes for her.

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On Friday,union minister Jayanthi Natarajan,herself a Rajya Sabha member whose term is ending next February,called on Karunanidhi. Even if the three-member strong PMK and MMK offer strategic support to the DMK,the latter would still be short of one vote.

Karunanidhis emissaries met CPM leaders in Delhi seeking support. But the party has already pledged support to the CPI,which is expected to announce a candidate,most probably D Raja . Together,they have only 18 seats. But the final result will depend on voting process,including second preference votes.

The one hope Karunanidhi has not given up on yet is the DMDK,the principal opposition party that is in deep crisis due to internal dissent. But its leader Vijayakant has not responded to the DMKs overtures so far. Sources said Vijayakant has called a meeting of his MLAs on Sunday and a decision was expected. DMK sources said they are in touch with the DMDK.

The AIAMDK has announced five candidates though the party is sure of getting four of them elected. It is also in talks with smaller parties and hoping for more defections in Viyajakants party. Seven DMDK MLAs have already switched sides to the AIADMK and sources said more defections are expected.