I could have become Deputy CM: Premallatha Vijayakant

DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant on Sunday claimed her party did not aspire for any “position” contrary to the perception that the party “bargains” for seats, “sofa sets”, or positions.

Speaking to reporters before a meeting of the party district secretaries in Chennai, she said the DMDK remained “loyal” to the DMK when she could have easily allied with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam after the polls.

“Even if we have just one seat, we are loyal to our alliance. Would it have been so difficult for me to go and meet Vijay (Chief Minister)? Wouldn’t my partymen not come with me? Everyone is leaving to become a Minister. If I had told him [the Chief Minister], he would have offered me the position of a Deputy Chief Minister,” she contended.

Ms. Premallatha said the DMDK had stood with the AIADMK in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls when alliance partners left it. “However, he (AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami) called those who left him and gave them seats (in 2026). We insisted so many times that the alliance leaders should appear together and participate in protests together. But, he didn’t do it. You all think that we quit the alliance because of an [Rajya Sabha] MP seat. The cadre and district secretaries weren’t respected (in the AIADMK). We formed an alliance with the DMK only because of it,” she said.

According to her, Mr. Palaniswami continued to insult the DMDK even when all other AIADMK leaders wanted the party in the alliance. “The AIADMK is in the ICU. What the AIADMK did to the DMDK in 2011-16, the TVK is doing to the AIADMK now. The resignations [of legislators and leaders] are going to continue,” she added.