MDMK to ally with BJP for Lok Sabha elections

Chennai, Jan 23:

and

on Thursday officially announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha polls even as the former is said to be holding talks with two other regional parties in the state.

With this, the BJP-MDMK alliance has virtually emerged as the third front against the regional majors AIADMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a joint press meet here, BJP state president Pon Radhakrishnan and MDMK general secretary Vaiko said their alliance was a winning combination and would add a new political dimension in the state.

"Since 1998, we have had a good relationship with MDMK even without alliance. We are now making it official," Radhakrishnan said.

In response to a query on the two parties having divergent views on issues such as 'Eelam'(separate homeland for Tamils), Vaiko said, "Parties do not necessarily agree on all issues in an alliance. What matters is the basic policy that the Congress should be dethroned."

BJP-MDMK alliance has virtually emerged as the third front.

"We have not made any preconditions on whether this or that party should join the alliance," Vaiko clarified.

The parties were yet to agree on the number of seats to be shared between them. While Vaiko said the party would decide on his candidature, Radhakrishnan interrupted to say, "We would want him (Vaiko) to contest."

BJP has also invited MDMK to participate in a public meeting to be addressed by its prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi in Chennai on February 8.

Asserting there is a 'Modi wave' in the country, Vaiko said only BJP has the power to dethrone the Congress. Asked for his reaction to senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's controversial 'tea vendor' remarks against Modi, Vaiko lashed out at Congress, saying history showed a son of a cobbler and son of a carpenter becoming rulers of nations.

BJP was presently holding talks with DMDK and PMK for forming alliances, Radhakrishnan said. "We are talking to persons next to Vijayakant.. We are sure he won't support Congress or parties associated with the Congress," he said, replying to a query.

PTI