CHENNAI: Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) leader GK Vasan on Monday announced that his party would join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The NDA is spearheaded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vasan made this announcement at a press conference.
Arvind Menon, BJP national secretary and the party in-charge of the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu spoke to GK Vasan on Sunday night. Vasan told the media, “BJP leaders spoke to me over the phone on Sunday. They also spoke to me about attending PM Modi’s Palladam meeting on February 27 which sees the culmination of K Annamalai’s En Mann En Makkal padayatra. I will be taking part in the public meeting with the Indian Prime Minister on February 27. Tamil Maanila Congress, as part of NDA, will face the coming elections under BJP’s leadership. THE TMC has always been a political party that had a national perspective though it was a regional party. The decision to join the NDA has been taken after due consultations with the party office bearers and in the interest of the party as well as the people of Tamil Nadu.”
The TMC had an alliance with the AIADMK in the 2021 Assembly elections but this time round has joined hands with the BJP. Vasan said, “PM Modi is the unanimous PM candidate of the NDA and people have realised that under his leadership, India would move towards economic prosperity, reduction in poverty and would ensure welfare measures reach the downtrodden.”
In response to the number of seats to be allocated to TMC, Vasan said, “What took place yesterday was preliminary talks. We wish that the BJP-led alliance should strengthen. The people will weigh what about the alliance which does not have a Prime Minister candidate on one side and the other side, a Prime Minister who ruled the country for 10 years and is seeking votes for the third time.”
The TMC would be contesting under their bicycle symbol for the Parliamentary elections. Vasan stated, “Our legal experts are trying to get the bicycle symbol for us. Our cadres like this symbol.”
