In high-level panel meet, DMK discusses simultaneous polls

The high-level Commiteee of the DMK today discussed the possbility of having to face Parliamentary and State Assembly polls at the same time, in the midst of a probable threat to the majority enjoyed by the AIADMK in the Assembly by way of a judgment in a case against disqualification of 18 lawmakers loyal to Dhinakaran.

After the executive council meet, leader of opposition and president of DMK MK Stalin told reporters that many issues pertaining to Parliamentary polls, and "the prospect of simultaneous polls were discussed," adding that decisions regarding alliances would be taken only after placing it before the General Council of the DMK and after the announcement of the poll dates.


The AIADMK is currently holding 116 seats in the state Assembly, including three legislators who have openly criticised the current Edappadi Palaniswami-led Government. If the disqulification is held illegal, the majority of the Government in the Assembly may come into question. The Supreme Court-appointed third judge M Sathyanarayanan had reserved judgment in September after hearing out both sides.

The DMK had lost two Assembly elections and one Parliamentary election since 2011. In the 2014 polls that saw Narendra Modi become Prime Minsiter, Tamil Nadu witnessed a sweep J Jayalalithaa's AIADMK, which won 37 of the 39 seats. The Congress, DMK combination drew a blank.
For the 2019 polls, while the DMK-Congress alliance struck four years ago appears to be intact, so far. In a state of flux now, the political equations between parties are expected to firm up around December.