Chennai: PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss’ meeting with DMDK founder Vijayakanth on Thursday appears to be more than mere enquiries about the health of ‘captain.’ The leaders of the AIADMK and BJP ensured a rapprochement between the two party leaders, as they did not want the AIADMK combine’s poll prospects to be affected, say sources in the BJP.
The leader of these two parties were last seen together when then BJP chief Rajnath Singh announced the alliance in the city with much fanfare in March 2014. And March appears to be something unique in the sense it has brought the leaders of these two parties together again. Though MDMK chief Vaiko who then joined the BJP alliance, is however not in the photo frame now as he is with the DMK. The BJP then had to suffer embarrassment as it could not bring its two allies together for the poll campaign.
“This time when Union minister Piyush Goyal who addressed the joint meeting on Wednesday urged the PMK leaders to call on Vijayakanth and ensure smooth functioning of the alliance,” said a source in the BJP.
The AIADMK leadership too felt that the prospects of the alliance would be affected at the hustings if the two parties did not come together.
Accordingly, on Thursday PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss, accompanied by his son and MP Dr. Anbumani, G. K. Mani and A. K. Moorthy, called on Vijayakanth and enquired him about his health.
“Our meeting went well. We did not discuss the constituencies. We came to enquire about the health of the ‘captain’,” Dr Ramadoss later told reporters. During the meeting minister P. Thangamani and S. P. Velumani were present and they were said to have ensured cordiality between the two leader.
“Normally when alliance are formed there would be delay in identifying constituencies. There can’t be exception for anyone. We will campaign for the DMDK in the constituencies allotted to them,” senior Ramadoss assured.
Seats identified for BJP: The AIADMK has finalised the Lok Sabha constituencies for the BJP and an announcement would be made soon once the seats for other allies are identified. “The announcement will be made this week-end or early next week, as Ashtami and Navami have come in the way,” a BJP senior said.
The BJP has been offered Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari and Coimbatore and the party was said to have accepted them. Though Nilgiris was initially offered the saffron party declined to accept as it was not in a position to field a good candidate there.
The party has pitched high hopes on these five constituencies from where it is likely to field H. Raja, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Pon Radhakrishnan and C. P. Radhakrishnan. “The announcement on nominating the candidates would be made by the party high command soon,” say party sources.
