Has DMK missed the bus?

 Has DMK missed the bus?

Thinking retrospectively, whether DMK could have played its cards differently and harvested best of both the worlds?

Given the current levels of votes polled, there is a reason for DMK to sulk its decision to contest only 22 seats on its own symbol.

Here is the scenario:

1) DMK well knew that Congress cannot win a single seat in TN on its own. Congress has to ride on either of the dravidian parties shoulders to win any seat.

2) Anyway there was a tacit understanding with AIADMK to go lacklusture by the later, as the primary aim was not to allow BJP  to raise its head.

3) Had Congress joined hand with AIADMK, after parting with DMK, still DMK could have ensured not much vote transfer by ADMK to Congress.

4) Now DMK with only 22 seats stands 4th in the list of opposition parties, Next only to Congress, SP, and TMC. Even if I.N.D.I.Alliance to form Govt, the position from where to bargain is little low.

5) DMK could have easily won 33-35 seats in its own symbol (besides the seats of petty partners) and thus could have made itself the kingmaker or even got coronated itself, had they gone alone.

6) With no prepoll alignment with either BJP or Cong, DMK could have placed itself in a stronger bargainable position with both formations, NDA or I.N.D.I.A.

In my opinion, a leader of the stature of Karunanidhi, would probably have thought like that.

Have they missed the Bus?