TN BJP still not happy with Jaya’s seat offer

When asked to elaborate, he said: ‘‘We wanted Puddukkotai, where we had a sitting member, MoS for Communications Su Thirunavukkarasur. We wanted Sivaganga and Tiruchirapally too. And we would have preferred South Madras to North Madras.’’ He said he did foresee ‘‘some problem from the cadre over this development,’’ but was sure that ‘‘being members of a disciplined party, they would all work for the success of alliance candidates’’.

Thirunavukkarasur attributed the denial of his seat to personal enmity (with Jayalalithaa). He said that he would not be driven away from public life by such acts. ‘‘I will contest and win in any future election.’’ State BJP chief C.P. Radhakrishnan said he was satisfied with the agreement. About Pudukkottai, he said every party had to adopt a give-and-take approach.

While party MPs are likely to be re-nominated from Nagercoil, Nilgiris and Coimbatore, the high command may field either national secretary Lalitha Kumaramangalam or Vijay Kumar from Pondicherry.

In the meantime, much to the BJP’s chagrin, the JD (U) today floated a third front, People’s Alliance, in TN. Party parliamentary board chairman Sharad Yadav, who announced the front’s formation, said its constituents will fight 20 Lok Sabha seats in TN on the JD(U) symbol. Ganesan dismissed the development saying: ‘‘It has no relevance. I don’t think they have any scope.’’