PMK to be with BJP till polls

CHENNAI, APRIL 21: Spiking speculation of a possible cross-over to the Congress camp, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, which has four precious ...

CHENNAI, APRIL 21: Spiking speculation of a possible cross-over to the Congress camp, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, which has four precious members in the Lok Sabha, today asserted that it would continue in the BJP Front till the next elections.

“ We will not support the Congress. This is 1000 out of 100 per cent (sic) sure…I will remain in the BJP camp until fresh elections are called,” PMK leader S Ramadoss declared, after a party executive committee meeting in the City today. However, he made it clear that his “friendship” with the AIADMK continued irrespective of the latter’s stand to prop up a Congress Government at the Centre. “We are not in the AIADMK alliance. But our friendship continues,” he said.

Without losing sight of the provincial political realities, he said, he would not rule out a future truck with the DMK either. “In the changed circumstances, with the DMK supporting the BJP, we are in the same front”. However, the party would decide on alliances only at the time of elections.But he hastened to add, “There are no enemies in politics”.

Story continues below this ad

Asked what was the option before the PMK if the AIADMK decided against reviving its alliance with the party, Ramadoss said, “In Tamil Nadu, you have to align either with the DMK or the AIADMK”. According to him, there was no scope for a Third Front whatsoever in the State.

On whether the PMK felt betrayed by the AIADMK, Ramadoss, not willing to rub the AIADMK supremo the wrong way, merely observed that the AIADMK had a democratic right to take an independent stand. Will DMK prove to be a dependable ally for the PMK? “You can’t get any reply for such questions from me,” he grinned.

Asked if there were attempts to create a split in the party’s parliamentary party, Ramadoss fiercely remarked that none can get near his MPs or break his party.

Reacting to DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s observation that TMC was responsible for the fall of the BJP Government, he said, “His observations are correct”.

Story continues below this ad

At the media meet, copies of the party’sletter to the President dated April 19, asserting its continued support to the BJP, were released. In his letter, Ramadoss has said that the only viable and stable government which the 12th Lok Sabha is capable of yielding, is the coalition of the BJP and its allies led by Vajpayee.

“We urge, therefore, that whenever you take a decision about any fresh arrangement, kindly take cognisance of this letter of ours, reaffirming confidence in A B Vajpayee,” the letter, which also bears the signatures of the four MPs, said.

Earlier in the day, the party executive reaffirmed its support to the BJP and appealed to the President to reinstall the Vajpayee Government.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

Amid Mahagathbandhan crisis, RJD unveils list of 143, drops 36 MLAs, focuses on ‘M-Y’

Political Pulse7 hr ago

The RJD, lead player of the Mahagathbandhan, released its full list of 143 candidates for the November Bihar Assembly elections. Its key face Tejashwi Yadav will contest from Raghopur, and 41 sitting MLAs have been renominated. The party has dropped 36 sitting MLAs and fielded young leaders, signaling a bid to consolidate its core Muslim-Yadav vote base. The Congress has fielded 60 candidates.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS