2019 elections: Tamil Nadu unit of Congress rules out alliance with TTV Dinakaran’s party
Former Rajya Sabha member S Peter Alphonse said he doesn’t think there’s space for any other alliance but added that such decisions were up to the high command.
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The Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress on Saturday ruled out any possibility of an alliance with Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam Deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran.
Dinakaran had on Thursday said his party will consider tying up with the Congress if it walks away from its alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Last week, he had ruled out an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu.
“Dinakaran has expressed his view,” Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President S Thirunavukkarasar told PTI. “We are already in an alliance with the DMK.”
Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member S Peter Alphonse agreed. But, he said, such decisions were up to the high command. “My view is, I don’t think there is any space for any other alliance at present,” he said adding that the alliance with DMK is “active, strong, time-tested and proven”.
Claiming that the two parties have “sailed together through thick and thin”, he added: “We know each other’s indispensability.”
Dinakaran had said on August 2 that his party will win 37 of Tamil Nadu’s 39 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, by itself. “Already, many are in touch with us for forging an alliance,” he claimed. “At present, the Congress is in alliance with the DMK. Let that party come out of that alliance. After that, we will consider forging an alliance with the Congress.”
“If the need arises, we will contest alone,” Dinakaran added.