Tamil Nadu polls: Allies urge Vaiko to reconsider boycott

Chennai, Mar 21 (ANI): Allies of the J. Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have appealed to M. Vaiko, the leader of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), to reconsider his decision to move away from the alliance.

While Jayalalithaa issued an open letter to Vaiko, the CPM, CPI and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) appealed Vaiko to rejoin the alliance.

Justifying her party's stand on the maximum number of seats it could concede to a long-time ally, Jayalalithaa said she was saddened by the MDMK's decision to walk out of the alliance and boycott the polls.

"As the leader of his party, you (Vaiko) have every right to decide your party's future course of action. But as your beloved sister, I still have great love and respect for you," she said.

CPM State Secretary G Ramakrishnan in a statement appealed Vaiko to reconsider his decision and rejoin the alliance.

"The MDMK is an important ally in the fight against the DMK-Congress alliance, which has steeped the country and the State in corruption," he said.

CPI State Secretary D Pandian and MMK chief M H Jawahirullah also issued similar statements.

Meanwhile, Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) south zone organising secretary and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers M K Alagiri said Vaiko had in the last minute understood the "egoistic nature" of Jayalalithaa.

"It is not the MDMK that has boycotted the elections. Instead the AIADMK has boycotted the MDMK," he said

The polling for 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 13.

During the last elections, the MDMK had contested 35 seats. Vaiko was demanding 31 seats, but Jayalalithaa was not in a generous mood. (ANI)