BJP ropes in AIADMK, now

The BJP on Tuesday finalised a poll pact with the AIADMK as per which it would contest five Lok Sabha constituencies as part of a rainbow alliance that would include the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and some fringe parties.

The BJP and AIADMK are coming together after 15 years. In 2004, the AIADMKBJP alliance drew a blank in Tamil Nadu after which they had parted ways.

The AIADMK also sealed a pact with the PMK which has been allotted seven seats in addition to a Rajya Sabha berth. In return, both the BJP and PMK have agreed to back the ruling AIADMK in 21 Assembly constituencies where by-election is due.

The AIADMK Government's continuance would depend on the outcome of these by-polls and with the backing of the two parties it hopes to cruise through at least a dozen seats.

The names of the constituencies where the BJP and PMK would contest are yet to be released.

The BJP has also initiated talks with actor Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) but there was no tangible outcome at the time of filing of this report.

Numerically speaking, going by the individual vote share of the partners the alliance appears strong enough to take on the challenge that would be posed by the DMK-Congress-Left-MDMK-VCK front that is taking shape. However, the alliance's success would solely hinge on the absolute vote transfer between the parties and not on public trust.

While the PMK had until now bitterly criticised the AIADMK and its leaders even presented a list of 24 corruption charges against it to the Governor, the BJP is being seen as a political liability as the opposition has successfully run a campaign against the party, dubbing it as “anti-Tamil Nadu”.

Besides, the BJP's alliance with the AIADMK, whose senior leaders and ministers have come under the probe of the CBI and Income Tax Department, would stick out as a sore thumb and mar the national party's claim to be intolerant towards corruption.

Setting aside all these differences and issues, AIADMK coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam told journalists that “a mega victorious alliance” has been formed to fight the Lok Sabha polls.

BJP Tamil Nadu election in-charge and Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, “All the parties in the NDA will work for the success of the alliance. We have concluded very fruitful discussions. We have agreed to contest the State elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Palaniswami ji and at the National level under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

Stating that the alliance would sweep all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he said, “We are starting our campaign in Tamil Nadu with full confidence that we will sweep the State as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa ji. She was a leader of the people… We will work together so that Amma (Jayalalithaa) will be happy and we will continue the good work she did for Tamil Nadu.”

Later Goyal went to meet Vijayakant to hold talks.