MDMK not to contest RS poll despite being given seat

Chennai, Mar 13 (UNI) The Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) today decided to keep away from the Rajya Sabha elections from Tamil Nadu assembly, despite being offered a seat by its alliance leader, the AIADMK.

A day after the AIADMK alloted a seat, the Parliamentary Board of the MDMK, chaired by its General secretary Vaiko met here this afternoon and decided not to enter the fray.

However it thanked the AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa for allotting a seat, the MDMK prudently decided against contesting, realsing that its prospects of victory were bleak.

The AIADMK, which had announced Mr N Balaganga as its candidate, offered one seat to the MDMK, despite the fact that the AIADMK-MDMK combine had a total strength of 66 members, two short of the required number of votes to ensure the win of two candidates.

Mr Balaganga is sure to get elected to the Upper House as the AIADMK had a strength of 60 members in Tamil Nadu assembly, but the victory of MDMK nominee was doubtful. The MDMK has only six members in the House.

It was in this backdrop that the MDMK decided to keep away from the elections, avoiding an embarassment to the party though initially, it was speculated that Mr Vaiko himself might enter the ring.

With MDMK deciding not to enter the fray, it remains to be seen whether the AIADMK would field its second candidate and force a contest for the March 26 Rajya Sabha poll.

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