The founder of DMDK,actor-politician Vijayakant,skipped a public meeting on Wednesday attended by all leaders of the opposition coalition in Coimbatore,triggering murmurs of a clash of ego with AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa. It was to be a meeting where Jayalalithaa and Vijayakant were to silence critics who have been pointing out that both leaders were yet to come together completely despite agreeing to contest as a single alliance. While the top leaders of alliance partners,including the Left parties which were represented by their general secretaries and a non-player in local politics,TDPs N Chandrababu Naidu,were present,it was the absence of the DMDK chief that attracted more attention. Vijayakant was campaigning at Nagapattinam and Karaikal areas,said party leaders,though rivals said he was staying away as Jaya did not personally invite him. There were whispers about how Jaya TV avoided visuals from his campaign and how his partys channel,Captain TV,did not air any of Jayas campaign tours. Speaking at the meeting,DMDK presidium chairman Panruti S Ramachandran said Captain Vijayakant was campaigning not only for party candidates,but for all opposition candidates. All those who are eager to see Vijayakant and Jaya together should please wait till the results come out in May when Jaya would assume charge as the Chief Minister., Ramachandran said.
