Top

Vijayakanth shuts doors on Javadekar; BJP rules out ties with AIADMK

BJP's last ditch effort to placate DMDK leader fails.

Chennai: Union Minister of State for Environment and in-charge of Tamil Nadu affairs Prakash Javadekar air-dashed to Chennai on Thursday to make one last frantic bid to prevent DMDK chief Vijayakanth from joining the DMK-combine, but failed to get audience with Captain, who chose to be away at his Rishivandhiyam constituency, less than four hours drive from the city.

Mr Javadekar had met Vijayakanth during his last trip on Sunday and promised to be back on Wednesday after consulting with party high command about the DMDK chief’s views and demands.

He arrived Thursday morning without the usual fanfare and drove to Vijayakanth’s brother-in-law Sudeesh’ house in Virugambakkam, where the star’s wife Premalatha was also present.

“When he tried to raise the alliance issue with Premalatha and her brother, he was told that Captain was away at his constituency and so nothing need be discussed down. Javadekar had to return empty-handed”, said a BJP source wishing anonymity.

The minister thereupon drove to the Institute of Ocean Management at the Anna University and undertook a 'review' before taking the flight back to Delhi early evening.

The task of forging alliances with Tamil Nadu parties for the coming elections is being handled directly by the BJP high command. "We were in a commanding position in 2014 and the others were more than willing to wait and talk to our leaders", lamented a BJP senior.

As the curtains come down, the BJP will face the polls without the DMDK and PMK. Indicating that the BJP is not keen on having truck with parties not opposed to corruption, Muralidhar Rao.

BJP national general secretary, in the city on Thursday ruled out alliance also with AIADMK. "Media is speculating that we are going either with the AIADMK or DMK. We don't want to go with either of them. Several community groups have approached us (for alliance)", he said.

It appears that during his Sunday meeting, Mr Javadekar had a tough time coming under fire from the Captain, who pointed out that the Central ministers did not bother to meet him during their Chennai trips whereas they called on Jayalalithaa, who had ill-treated him after being his ally in the 2011 state polls. Also, Mr Vijayakanth reportedly expressed unhappiness at BJP deciding to admit actor Sarath Kumar into the NDA.

"If you think I am still in the NDA, why didn't your leaders see me during their Chennai trips and why wasn't I told before your party decided to admit Sarath Kumar?" he reportedly asked Javadekar, according to the BJP source.

Attempts by Murlidhar Rao and Pon Radhakrishnan to placate Captain failed, even as the DMK stepped up efforts to seal poll pact with him. After forming the rainbow alliance for 2014 LS polls, the BJP had not convened any meeting of its allies nor did it participate in joint agitations.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
Next Story