Chennai: MDMK is likely to make a formal announcement of its exit from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance after its general council meeting on Saturday. Senior MDMK functionaries told TOI that members of the committee unanimously backed the proposal to quit the alliance. Meanwhile, one of the two MDMK MLAs who contested on DMK’s rising sun symbol abstained from the high level committee.“Our leader will make the formal announcement after the general council meeting,” a committee member said, describing the decision as inevitable in the prevailing political circumstances. The shift in MDMK’s position became evident over the past few weeks as MDMK general secretary Vaiko and principal secretary Durai Vaiko repeatedly signalled dissatisfaction with DMK.After Congress and VCK extended support to the TVK govt and joined the cabinet headed by chief minister C Joseph Vijay, Durai Vaiko stated that it was “unfortunate” that MDMK candidates had contested under DMK’s symbol. Vaiko, too, suggested that the party had remained in the alliance for nearly a decade by compromising its self-respect. The meetings of Vaiko and Durai Vaiko with Vijay further fueled speculation about a possible political realignment.MDMK leaders said Sirkazhi MLA Senthil Velan and Kadayanallur MLA T M Rajendran, who were among the four candidates fielded by MDMK under the DMK symbol in the April 23 election, had been invited to the Friday meeting as special participants. While Rajendran attended, Senthil Velan stayed away, which was seen as a sign of dissent.“They had resigned from MDMK before the election and technically entered the House as DMK MLAs. That is why they were invited as special guests. Rajendran attended, but Senthil Velan did not. We have not been able to reach him,” said a senior party leader. MDMK leaders said they hope Senthil Velan will attend the general council on Saturday.
