DMDK Likely to Obtain Rajya Sabha Seat from AIADMK Quota

Chennai, Feb 13 (NationPress) The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), established by the late Tamil film icon Vijayakanth, is poised to receive a nomination for the Rajya Sabha.

The party is expected to nominate the late Vijayakanth's son Vijay Prabhakaran as its candidate.

DMDK's general secretary and Vijayakanth's wife, Premalatha, conveyed to the press that the AIADMK had committed to providing the party a Rajya Sabha seat during their discussions leading to the 2024 Lok Sabha election coalition.

Though DMDK fielded Vijay Prabhakaran from the Virudhunagar constituency, he faced defeat against Congress leader and incumbent MP Manickam Tagore by a narrow margin of 4,379 votes.

Besides Virudhunagar, DMDK also contested in Tiruvallur (SC), Central Chennai, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituencies.

Sources within DMDK have confirmed that the AIADMK assured them a Rajya Sabha seat during the 2024 alliance discussions.

The DMDK has also approached the BJP to garner support for their candidate in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The DMDK has a notable electoral history, having secured 29 out of 40 seats contested in the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, establishing itself as the principal Opposition party.

This achievement positioned DMDK as the second-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, surpassing the DMK, with Vijayakanth becoming the Leader of the Opposition.

In parallel, Tamil cinema star and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Haasan is anticipated to receive a Rajya Sabha nomination from the DMK.

Reports from IANS indicate that the DMK is likely to fulfill its promise to Kamal Haasan made during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, recognizing his extensive campaigning for the INDIA bloc.

MNM spokesperson and acclaimed Tamil filmmaker Murali Appas confirmed the party’s expectation of a Rajya Sabha seat, while indicating that Kamal Haasan will decide on the candidate after discussions with party officials.

MNM, founded by Kamal Haasan on February 21, 2018, in Madurai, champions transparency, governance reforms, and regional collaboration. Its party flag, featuring six interlinked hands, represents unity among the southern states of India (five states and one Union Territory).

In the 2019 general elections, MNM captured a 3.72% vote share, particularly excelling in urban areas like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai, where it garnered over one lakh votes in select constituencies.

However, the party struggled in rural regions, with all candidates failing to secure their deposits.

During the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, MNM contested independently but did not win any seats.

Kamal Haasan himself lost in the Coimbatore South constituency to the BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan by a margin of 1,728 votes.

aal/rad