The party faces two terrible choices after overestimating itself.
The drama over the formation of alliances for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu have soured, but continue to move towards completion. The majority of the drama was centred over the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), which finds itself backed against a corner after having bargained perhaps too long and too hard.
The DMDK, which is led by actor-turned-politician Vijayakant, now seems to have about two days to make a big decision - either join the AIADMK-led front with a worse deal than it had initially demanded, or fight the elections alone.
The BJP is keen on bringing the DMDK into the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu, The Hindu reported. However, the AIADMK, despite being the senior partner in the state, is not the one that has negotiated with the DMDK. The talks with the party have been conducted by the BJP's state incharge and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
The DMDK however had been caught trying to play both sides. Even as it continued to press the BJP to force concessions from the AIADMK, it had been holding talks with the DMK. Its hopes of getting a better deal were smashed when DMK chief MK Stalin on Thursday announced that there was no space for the DMDK in its front.
The AIADMK has now left things at a take-it-or-leave-it offer of four seats, reported Times of India. That is insult to injury for the DMDK for three reasons. One, with five seats, even BJP - a merely marginal presence in the state - has got more seats. Two, it is less than the seven seats allotted to the PMK, whose vote bank the DMDK cannibalised when it was established in 2005. Three, it will have to come into the alliance as a player who had no other choice.
Vijayakant's DMDK is between a rock and a hard place. Just eight years ago, the party was hotly pursued by all and sundry as a valuable ally, thanks to its consistent vote share of 8-10 percent. However, in the 106 Assembly election, the party sank to a mere 2.39 percent.
The AIADMK has reportedly given the DMDK two days to make its decision. However, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the DMDK may choose to go for broke and decide to contest all seats on its own in a bid to show a healthy vote share and re-establish itself as a worthwhile ally.
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 "DMDK chief Vijayakant has been left staring at two bleak choices.")
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