BJP tries to woo PMK, DMDK for LS polls in TN

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, who have been in Chennai since Friday night, on Monday tried to seal the alliance with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK).

DMDK, now led by late Captain Vijayakanth’s wife Premalatha Vijayakanth, was in talks with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for the upcoming parliamentary elections. In a sudden turn of events, the DMDK pulled out of the talks and is now reportedly speaking to the BJP and five seats could be allotted to the party.

Though DMDK has denied that they held any alliance talks with the AIADMK, reports have been doing the rounds on this in recent days. Even on Monday, it was reported that senior AIADMK leaders visited Premalatha Vijayakanth at her residence and held a meeting for about 30 minutes. Though no official statement has been released on what the meeting was about, it is rumoured that Premalatha had put forth certain conditions before she could agree to joining the AIADMK. With BJP likely to onboard DMDK, it looks like AIADMK’s alliance plan has been scuttled. Meanwhile, the senior BJP members have also met with PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss and his father S Ramadoss, the founder of the party, at their residence in ViIlupuram.

But they have not released any official statement on their alliance so far. There are also reports that the senior BJP members will meet with TTV Dhinakaran, the leader of the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam.
As of now, the BJP has formed alliances with smaller parties like Tamil Manila Congress (M), Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi, New Justice Party and All India Samathuva Makhal Katchi. Each of these political parties could get one seat each.