Chennai: The saffron party does not appear to relish the ‘ambitious’ idea of ally and actor-politician Vijayakanth (DMDK founder) projecting himself as the chief ministerial candidate for the 2016 assembly elections nor any of its allies.
“As a party leader, he may nurse the ambition of becoming the chief minister. This is natural, but a common candidate ought to be announced by the BJP-led NDA before the polls,” state BJP president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said.
Asked about media reports on Vijayakanth claiming to provide an alternative to both the major Dravidian parties the AIADMK and the DMK in the state she replied that it might also be his party’s agenda.
“All our allies have their own party principles, but they are all in the NDA, as they have accepted the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she said. Would it be possible then to sustain the NDA alliance, especially with a hawkish PMK and MDMK grabbing every opportunity to criticise the Centre? The senior leader hoped this would be so.
Even at the cadre level, the parties do not seem to share bonhomie, with leaders of the allies criticising the Modi government on various subjects, including language and fishermen issues.
“But these should not be construed as signs of the ties being on the rocks. There is still time for the assembly election. The NDA has the most favourable chances of winning the 2016 assembly election,” another senior leader said.
“Even Dr Anbumani Ramadoss is being projected as the chief ministerial candidate of the PMK. They may nurture an ambition, but usually the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate for Tamil Nadu polls will be from the BJP,” claims M. Chakravarthy, state vice-president of the party.
