Tamil Nadu 2016 assembly polls: DMK to contest on at least 170 seats, says Elangovan

Chennai, Sept 3: In the run up to next assembly elections in 2016 in Tamil Nadu, the DMK is reportedly aiming to contest on at least 170 seats out of 234 seats.

In an interview with a leading daily, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said that as a potential ally, Congress should not expect more than 30 seats. [Coaltion govt chances bright in TN: Elangovan]

Elangovan, the former Rajya Sabha MP, also said that although, the DMK has not yet approached any party yet for the alliance, but it is comfortable in joining hands with Congress, MDMK, DMDK and Left parties.

He also said that the party is not keen to form an alliance with PMK or VCK due to their caste-based approach.

On Monday, Aug 31, the DMK veteran said that the MDMK chief Vaiko and Thol Thirumavalanan of VCK and CPI leder R Nallakannu had issued statements in support of him.

DMK's reaction

Surprisingly, the DMK high command has refuted the claims made by Elangovan.

In a statement issued today, the party has said, "All the information in the interview by TKS Elangovan are wrong and there is no truth in it. DMK will not accept the content of the claims by Elangovan. Party cadres need not worry about the comments as there is not even an iota of fact in the interview."

Meanwhile, the PMK, an ally of the BJP-led NDA in Tamil Nadu, has already kickstarted its campaign for the 2016 Assembly polls with its chief ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss claiming that the "fate of the entire state would be changed if his party came to power".

PMK has also maintained that they would never go for an alliance with DMK or AIADMK.

The fate of the two principle Dravidian parties- DMK and AIADMK will be decided after the 2016 Assembly poll results will be out.

OneIndia News