SDPI likely to join DMK front: KN Nehru

TRICHY: DMK principal secretary and municipal administration minister K N Nehru has hinted at Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) joining the DMK-led alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing the party's Trichy south district cadres' meeting on Friday, Nehru said party president and chief minister M K Stalin has been keeping the alliance partners together for the past 10 years. He listed out these parties as Congress, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK, IUML and MMK.
"Additionally, SDPI may join us. It will be known during election time only," Nehru said at the meeting. He said the DMK president will reward cadres after the Lok Sabha elections for their hard work. Nehru criticised governor R N Ravi for calling Dravidian model an expired ideology. The cadres meeting was organised by Trichy south district secretary and school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to prepare them for the LS polls.
Nehru's comment about SDPI's possible induction into the alliance triggered a buzz in political circles. But DMK sources called it premature saying it can be decided only by the party president in the run-up to the elections next year. On the other hand, SDPI has welcomed it. "We want to be part of the DMK alliance. However, the decision on the alliance will be taken only by our general council," SDPI state president Nellai Mubarak told TOI .