BJP seals deal with MDMK, talks on with PMK

BJP general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu Murlidhar Rao indicated that party was in final stages of cliching a formal alliance with M Ramadoss-led PMK in the state.

“PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss had met Rajnath Singh regarding 2014 elections sometime back,” Rao told The Indian Express, indicating formal negotiations between the two parties for a pre-poll alliance.

Party sources indicated that the party was also in informal talks with actor Vijaykanth-led DMDK in the state but admitted that the talks with this party was still behind PMK as far as clinching an alliance go.

MDMK’s joining the NDA holds significance in wake of the fact that this is the first political party to formally align with BJP after Narendra Modi’s projection as saffron party’s PM candidate September last year. Rao said that MDMK has already constituted its own coordination committee to coordinate with state BJP unit for Modi’s public meeting in Chennai early next month.

Former Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, who joined BJP last year, had voiced his reservations against allying with MDMK in his Twitter posts earlier this month. However, the party appears to have brushed aside his reservations.