‘Suspect’ PMK puts its foot down: no to BJP

‘‘I was the first political leader in Tamil Nadu to project Sonia Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate. So, there will be no change in our alliance with the Congress even if it does not form a government,’’ said Ramadoss.

His ‘‘no-no’’ to BJP assumes significance as the PMK is being counted as one of the potential deserters from the Congress camp in the event of the BJP-led NDA falling short of a majority.

The PMK is contesting six of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone constituency in Pondicherry, in alliance with the DMK, Congress and four other parties.

The PMK leader, who is known for switching camps before and after the elections, this time round, insists that ‘‘wiping out the BJP from Tamil Nadu’’ is his post-poll mission. The reason for his sudden aversion towards the BJP: ‘‘The PMK which was founded on the principles of rationalist leader Periyar went to a house (BJP) it should not have stepped in. We allowed the BJP to strike roots in Tamil Nadu. So, it’s my duty to ensure that it is wiped out of the Tamil Nadu.’’

According to him, there is ‘‘no chance’’ of a third political front forming a government at the Centre.

A staunch supporter of the LTTE, the PMK has always found new company on the eve of every election since 1998. The party was in alliance with the ADMK-BJP in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, but moved over to the DMK-BJP camp in the 1999 general elections.

Two years later, in the May 2001 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the PMK leapt back to the AIADMK bandwagon. But, the bonhomie with the AIADMK lasted only two months, and in the local bodies elections held in October 2001, the party hopped right back into the DMK alliance.

However, Dr Ayya, as Ramadoss is called by his party supporters, insists he will not play a deserter. No, not this time around.