Vijayakanth given ultimatum to dump PWF and join DMK

The man who wanted to be the king is facing a revolt from his soldiers. Captain Vijayakanth is facing a revolt and a split in his DMDK on the eve of assembly elections. Extremely cut up over his decision to go with PWF instead of DMK that would have dislodged Jayalalithaa, 10 district secretaries and several MLAs came out in the open and gave an ultimatum to the party boss – dump PWF and join DMK by tomorrow.

“Or else, we would join the DMK,” said DMDK propaganda secretary VK Chandrakumar, who has been with Vijayakanth since 1980. His decision will only help Jayalalithaa and is akin to committing suicide, he said at a hurriedly convened press conference.

The revolt came as a shot in the arm of the DMK, which was anyway weaning away DMDK leaders and cadres all across the state. It was an operation that was masterminded by DMK treasurer and former deputy chief minister MK Stalin. Several DMDK second rung leaders were meeting him secretly party sources hinted.

The DMDK leaders had personally met Vijayakanth and informed him of their demand and had also written him letter. But on Tuesday they came out openly in the media and gave an ultimatum to the party boss.

The AIADMK began celebrating the day Vijayakanth dumped Karunanidhi and went alone. Upbeat mood followed in the ruling party after Vijayakanth joined forces with the PWF, a decision that made the contest that much tougher for the DMK supremo Karunanidhi, as the opposition votes would be split.

However, the Tuesday’s revolt came when 10 district secretaries gave an ultimatum till tomorrow to Vijayakanth to make a decision. “We have been hit by the AIADMK. Our leader (Vijayakanth) at every meeting had declared that their sole aim was to defeat Jayalalithaa and for that he was ready for any sacrifice. But his decision only goes to help Jayalalithaa by splitting opposition votes,” the propaganda secretary said.

Even during candidate selection interviews, Vijayakanth gave an impression that he was tilting towards the DMK. Most party men were wanting to go with the DMK, Chandrakumar, flanked by other DMDK leaders said.

PWF leader Thol Tirumavanalan said Chandrakumar was speaking a language that was not his. At all the meetings he expressed happiness over the alliance with PWF and now he is suddenly making surprising statements and demands.

However, it is an internal matter of the DMDK, the PWF leader said. The revolt, beamed through television channels across Tamil Nadu, had Vijayakanth in a huddle with his wife Premlata and brother in saw Sudheesh and senior leaders.