BJP pulls off coup in TN

The AIADMK(J) has decided to align with the BJP as the party’s objective is to help form a stable and able government’ at the Centre. Especially, in view of the recent unstable’ political scenario and the harm this has caused to the country, the press release said.

The people of Tamil Nadu have always desired a stable government at the Centre and the alliance with the BJP has been struck to fulfill this desire of the people, the press statement said, adding that issues like seat-sharing will be taken up at the AIADMK’s executive committee meet on Thursday. The BJP team, which visited Jayalalitha, comprised All-India vice-president Jana Krishnamurthy, party deputy leader in Rajya Sabha and in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Kerala O Rajagopal, State president K N Lakshmanan and State general secretary L Ganesan.

The AIADMK(J) team included chairman of the party presidium V R Nedunchezhian, treasurer Sedapatti R Muthiah and headquarters secretary V Sathiamoorthy.

Yesterday, State leaders of the BJP had made it clear that the party had totally ruled out tie-ups with “any party which is a constituent of the Congress(I) or the TMC front”. But the option of aligning with the AIADMK was open. “The ball is now in the AIADMK court and it has to decide whether it wants to align with the BJP or the Congress,” the BJP had said. The BJP, it is understood, was initially in favour of a tacit understanding and not an open alliance. The AIADMK, BJP alliance has dashed Congress hopes. The party had sent CWC member Vijayabhaskara Reddy to woo Jayalalitha last week.

But clearly, Jayalalitha was not very keen on the alliance because she had issued a press note squashing rumours that she had arrived at an understanding with the Congress leader.