BJP’S doors are open, says PM on alliances

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is open to alliances and cherished its old friends. In an interaction with party boothlevel workers from five districts in Tamil Nadu through video conferencing, Modi recalled successful coalition politics ushered in by former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the 1990s and said the BJP’S doors were always open. “The doors for alliance are still open in Tamil Nadu and the BJP welcomes its former allies as well,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also used the interaction with party workers from Krishnagiri, Erode, Vellore and Cuddalore, the fourth such event in the state, to take on the Congress over the Agustawestland chopper deal.

“The nation deserves to know how Christian Michel, extradited last month, got to know about the time of the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security and the status of a government file?” he asked.

Responding to questions from a worker whether the BJP would ally with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s yet to form political party, Modi said, “We have an alliance with the people. And this alone is the winning combination. As such, our doors are open for parties in Tamil Nadu to join us. We welcome our former allies as well. We cherish the friendship with our former allies.”

While the Congress has become a part of the Dmk-led secular front, comprising the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) , Dalit party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Vaiko’s Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the BJP has just initiated efforts to find allies. The saffron party is hopeful of being part of an AIADMKLED combine.