Chennai: The BJP on Monday distanced itself from Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi’s letter to the AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, claiming that the letter should not be construed as a ‘policy statement of the party or a letter trying to influence the court of justice.’
BJP national general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao was reacting to queries from reporters on Ms Maneka’s letter, expressing her support and sympathy while wishing that the former CM resume her position at the helm of the state administration soon despite her conviction in the disproportionate assets case.
Playing down the issue, he said that the saffron party was projecting itself as an alternative to both the AIADMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu. “Our opposition to the AIADMK government is in no way diluted in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
The BJP wanted to be a ‘formidable player’ in the state after Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and following the party’s massive electoral win in Haryana and Maharashtra, the BJP would initiate work in the south ‘very seriously’, he added.
In her missive to Jayalalithaa, Ms Maneka had also said, “If there is anything I can do to make this time less onerous, I would be happy to do it. You have been through a great deal of suffering in your life and it is remarkable how you have always managed through discipline and courage, to overcome the odds against you.”
Further, Maneka Gandhi went on to state, “I am sure this time will be over soon and we will see you formally back at the helm of administration again.”
On superstar Rajinikanth, Mr Rao said that his party had not said that Rajinikanth would join the BJP. “We need to work out a strategy for everybody — from common man to actors — to join the party,” Muralidhar Rao said.
