PMK strolls into Jaya’s Garden

The PMK, which is known for its LTTE sympathies, decided last night to cast its lot with the AIADMK front, is now in the company of BJP, Janata Party and Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK). Jayalalitha justified the inclusion of the PMK, saying her basic aim was to defeat the DMK-TMC front which `represent an evil force that can do no good to the nation or the state’. To a question, Jayalalitha said the BJP had been apprised of the PMK’s inclusion in the alliance, and had welcomed it.

To a question on the PMK’s well-known opposition to the ban imposed on the LTTE, Jayalalitha said: “Those are all old stories. They don’t hold good in today’s context.’

Congress dissident and former TNCC president, Vazhappadi K Ramamurthy, would soon come out of the party and float his own outfit. Thereafter, he would be accommodated in the AIADMK front, she said.

Asked if the front would be broad-based further, she said that with only 40 seats available (including one in Pondicherry), there was no scope for any other party. She already had quite a hectic job on hand to distribute the limited number of seats among the present constituents.

The leaders of all parties in the alliance would address the AIADMK’s conference at Tirunelveli on January 3, she said. She had invited both the BJP president, L K Advani, and the prime ministerial candidate, A B Vajpayee, to speak, and one of them was certain to be present, she said.

The front would be launching its campaign with a public meeting on Marina sands late in January.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, reacting to PMK’s decision told The Indian Express that he knew 15 days ago that BJP and PMK would have alliance with AIADMK and that there was nothing to `wonder’ at.