Though shocked by Vijayakanth’s decision to go it alone in the Assembly polls, parties that had plans of allying with his Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), have welcomed his move.

It is common knowledge that political parties in Tamil Nadu, including DMK and BJP tried to woo Vijayakanth to get him into an alliance.

The “disappointed” BJP, which failed to bring DMDK to its fold, on Friday, said that it had invited Vijayakanth only to revive NDA in the State. “We welcome Vijayakanth’s decision. We would have been happy if he joined us (NDA). However, we are still strong to face it alone”, BJP State President Tamilisai Soundararajan, said.

Claiming that her party would bank on the good work done by the NDA government at the Centre, she said “we are ready to contest all 234 seats alone if required”.

On the other hand, the DMK too welcomed Vijayakanth’s stance and said DMDK contesting alone will not affect the party in anyway.

“We had invited him and it was up to him (Vijayakanth) to decide to join as our ally. We are not worried about his decision and it will not dent our victory. We are now fully concentrating on the elections work”, DMK Treasurer and Party President M. Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Stalin, said.

Vijayakanth’s decision to go it alone in the polls came as a severe setback, especially for the DMK, though it offered whatever seats DMDK demanded. DMK party sources said that the party senior leaders were into huddle to chalk out future course of action.

Meanwhile, People Welfare Front (PWF), comprising MDMK, VCK, CPI (M) and CPI, possibly a “Third Front”, which was the first to approach Vijayakanth for poll alliance, said it was taking Vijayakanth’s announcement in the right stride.

“We are taking his (Vijayakanth) decision positively. We already have a strong alliance in place. Vijayakanth’s decision will not affect us in any way,” MDMK chief Vaiko, who led the PWF, said. Left party leaders too expressed similar views.

As per Vijayakanth’s announcement, the seven member committee of the DMDK met on Friday morning and have started their job of selecting candidates for 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.