The setback suffered in the recent Assembly by-elections held at Vikravandi and Naguneri in the State has jolted and rattled the DMK, which was expecting to register a cakewalk victory in the Assembly Elections to be held in 2021, according to party insiders.

The DMK which had a landslide win in the Lok Sabha election from the State in April 2019, conceded two of its sitting seats to the AIADMK, a party which reminded resembled a rudderless ship.

One of the leaders in the party had told The Pioneer that the words of some of the alliance partners like the VCK and the MDMK were the causes for the defeat of the DMK and the Congress from Vikravandi and Nanguneri respectively. One of the outcomes from the bypoll is that the alliance partners like the Congress and the VCK would put the DMK under pressure by demanding more seats because they have understood the fact that party chief MK Stalin is vulnerable to defeat. Stalin, who took over the presidentship of the party after the death of M Karunanidhi is eager to win the assembly election and become the Chief Minister of the State. “The Congress and the VCK would insist on more number of seats in the next assembly election because it has been their desire and dream to be part of the ruling set up in the State. The alliance partners of the DMK want a coalition kind arrangement and for that they would go for some hard bargaining,” said Sam Rajappa, veteran political commentator.

T Ramakrishnan, author and a keen follower of the state of affairs in the DMK, said though the party has not taken any formal decision regarding the kild of alliance partners it would have for the next assembly election, party leadership has taken serious note of the setbacks.

 “The defeats come immediately after the Lok Sabha election which was won hands down by the DMK and allies. No substantial developments have taken place in the State which had boosted the image of the AIADMK. The general feeling is that the AAIADMK is on  a comeback trail and this should be an eye opener for the DMK,” said Ramakrishnan.

Interesting days are ahead in Tamil Nadu politics as all the political outfits have started preparing for the local body elections expected to take place in another three months.