Tamil Nadu Polls: AISMK leader Sarath Kumar says AIADMK alliance over

On Sunday, the founder-president of All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar stated that the alliance with AIADMK was over. Speaking at a committee meeting at Nagercoil, Sarath Kumar who is the sitting Tenkasi MLA, said that his work in the legislative assembly was over, effective Saturday.

A report in The New Indian Express, quoted him as saying that the AISMK was no longer in the AIADMK alliance. He added that he had campaigned for the AIADMK nine times including for the Assembly, Lok Sabha and local body polls.

Recently, another actor-turned-politician Vijayakant, had stated that he was a kingmaker when he was speaking at the DMDK’s Kancheepuram conference. The report quotes Sarath Kumar as saying, "Perunthalaivar Kamarajar remains the only kingmaker and Vijayakant cannot become one."

Regarding the speculation as to where he would contest from, Sarath Kumar stated that Nagercoil or Srivaikundam or anywhere else where he would win.

The report adds that Sarath Kumar said the AISMK was ready to contest in all the 234 constituencies. The daily quoted him as saying, “success or defeat is not a problem to me. I will take a good decision on the alliance as the party’s general body has authorised me to take a call.”