Actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth, popularly known as "Captain," announced Wednesday that his party Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) would be contesting the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in May 2016 with People's Welfare Front (PWF). He would be the chief ministerial candidate for the alliance.
The coalition was announced the same day that BJP chief Amit Shah is set to reach Tamil Nadu. The BJP had approached Vijayakanth to become a part of the NDA in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming elections. They had previously partnered for the 2014 national elections.
The DMDK will be contesting in 124 seats, while the PWF's four parties, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist), will be contesting in the remaining 110 seats, NDTV reported.
In 2011, the DMDK had contested the Assembly elections with current Chief Minister J Jayalalitha's AIADMK. However, the two parties had a falling out, following which the DMDK became the Opposition. In 2014, the 63-year-old former actor's party had partnered with the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the party was not able to win any seats.
The DMDK has been winning a stable vote-share since 2006, the News Minute reported. During the 2011 Assembly elections it had won 29 seats. In 2009, the party won almost 10 percent votes in the Lok Sabha elections and in 2006 won 10 percent during Assembly elections.
The PWF, touted as the "third front" in the state, formally forged an alliance with DMDK Nov. 2, 2015 and had also released a Common Minimum Programme. The alliance projects itself as anti-authoritarian and anti-corruption, the Quint reported.
The Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu is scheduled for May 16 and the result will be out May 19.
