Chennai: After the deluge and hectic flood relief work, political parties in the state have switched to election mode and are gearing up for an election year. With various political parties trying the winning arithmetic combination, clarity on alliance is likely to dawn after Pongal.
The highly volatile political atmosphere has made many parties ponder over forging a winnable electoral alliance and not wanting to be left behind MDMK chief Vaiko along with VCK and the left parties formed the PWF. Admitting the alliance formation among parties was still dicey, a BJP senior said a clear picture would emerge post Pongal.
“There is no clarity…parties are trying various combinations. In case the PMK stages a comeback, it will not work for the NDA. Even the bigger Dravidian players are in confused state on the alliance issue,” asserts M. Chakravarthy, BJP state vice-president. Though certain parties like the DMK and PWF hope to gain by weakening the NDA, none dare test the waters on their own, he adds.
The Saffron party is willing to make “modest” sacrifice to retain the DMDK and is pragmatic that it will be wise to wage the political battle without a strong ally by its side. Though a section in the BJP feel the party could make it to the Assembly in 2016 only if it forged an alliance with the AIADMK, given BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong equations with AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
“Despite this, we did not have an alliance during the 2011 Assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Alliance with AIADMK is an issue which our party high command alone could decide,” another senior BJP leader said.
BJP senior and Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan is confident that DMDK, which is being sought by several parties, would “continue to be in the NDA front”.
The ruling AIADMK wrapped up the year 2015 triggering speculation of repeating its spectacular performances in 2011 Assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
