DMK to contest fewest seats ever in election

Chennai: The Karunanidhi-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will contest in far fewer seats than they have ever done in their political history in the forthcoming state assembly elections, a senior DMK party member said here yesterday.

T.K.S. Elangovan, DMK Organisation Secretary, told Gulf News, "For the first time we find that we are not able to contest in a large number of constituencies. This means we need to win most of the seats, at least a 92 per cent victory, to be able to form a majority government. We have taken a big risk this time."

The DMK will contest in 132 seats in this state assembly elections as compared to the 234 total number of seats in the legislative assembly, while their alliance partners like the Congress will fight in 48 seats, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) 31 seats, 13 Communist Party of India-Marxist and 10 to Communist Party of India, said Elangovan.

"It does not mean that the DMK cannot win this election. It just means that we cannot afford to be lethargic this time," he continued.

Asked if the DMK was pressurised to provide more seats to their alliance partners at their own cost in this election, he said, "It means our leader is accommodating and shared the seats generously."

DMK president M. Karunanidhi will kick off his electoral campaign from Wednesday at the Saidapet constituency located on the outskirts of Chennai. His archrival, AIADMK leader J. Jayalilatha is already touring the districts of Tamil Nadu and is in the middle of her electioneering campaign, which she initiated on March 31.