Chennai . Film star-turned-politician Vijay, playing a big bet in Tamil Nadu politics, has made it clear that his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) will contest the upcoming assembly elections alone. He has completely rejected speculations of any kind of alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This decision of Vijay has intensified the stir in the politics of the state.
During the meeting of party leaders in Pattinpakkam, Vijay confidently said that his party is not talking about an alliance with any other party. He clearly told the workers to go to their respective areas and intensify work at the grassroots level, because the list of candidates is going to be released soon. Vijay also told that he himself will tour the entire Tamil Nadu and will work on strengthening the party. In fact, it was being discussed for some time that the alliance talks between TVK and NDA have advanced a lot. Political experts believe that if this alliance had happened, the elections could have been three-way. But things could not work out due to differences in ideology and disagreement over leadership.
According to sources, BJP had offered TVK about 60 seats and the post of Deputy CM. In response to this, a demand was made by TVK that there should be a power sharing formula in which Vijay would become the Chief Minister for the first half of the term. But this proposal was not accepted by the AIADMK leadership, especially Edappadi K Palaniswami, following which the talks broke down.
Now it is believed that this time Tamil Nadu will not see a direct contest but a tough four-cornered election struggle. On one side there will be an alliance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), on the other side All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and BJP, on the third side Vijay’s TVK and on the fourth side Nam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which is already preparing to contest the elections alone.
Now TVK has started finalizing its candidates. It is reported that names for about 60 seats have already been finalized and the complete list and manifesto will be released soon. Vijay is likely to contest from Perambur seat in Chennai, while prominent leaders like Aadhav Arjun (Villivakkam) and Anand (T Nagar) are also set to field from different seats. Several other names are also being considered including Rajmohan Arumugam, Arul Prakasam and P. Venkatraman.
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