Chennai: Several BJP leaders have appealed to the PMK and MDMK to refrain from issuing provocative statements that could hurt the NDA. Angered by Vaiko’s diatribe against Prime Minister M. Modi on the Lankan Tamil issue, H. Raja had warned the MDMK chief to control his tongue "or else he would not be able to return home safely". Mr Raja's 'threat' drew the ire of many state politicians, including the Communists forcing TN BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan to clarify that his remark was "his own personal view".
Against this backdrop, Tuesday's pat from Karunanidhi has energised a fresh bout of speculation about Vaiko migrating to the DMK camp. There was much excitement when the MDMK chief exchanged pleasantries with DMK leader M.K. Stalin at the wedding of PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss granddaughter. Vaiko had, however, sought to play down that bonhomie with long-time rival as "mere political etiquette'. But then, the DMK has been warming up to the MDMK, with the Tuesday statement from Karunanidhi being the most revealing.
A senior MDMK leader pointed out that almost all the opposition leaders, including TNCC president E.V.K.S. Elangovan, PMK founder Dr Ramadoss and CPM state secretary G. Ramakrishnan have condemned Raja's remark. "Our party will take a decision on the continuance in the NDA at the district secretaries meet on December 8", he said.
In his Tuesday statement, Mr Karunanidhi said the state BJP leaders should apprise the PM about the strong sentiments in Tamil Nadu vis-&-vis the Sri Lankan issue, rather than be lashing out at those who criticised the PM because he wished the Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa another term winning the presidential poll next January. Some of the state BJP leaders were behaving as though they were the true representatives of the PM, the DMK chief alleged.
