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The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has formed a six-party alliance in Tamil Nadu for the coming Lok Sabha election.
The BJP has roped in the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMDK), Pattalli Makkal Katchi (PMK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi and Indhiya Jananayaka Katchi into the alliance. Actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth’s DMDK, which has been allotted 14 seats, will be the main partner in the alliance.
The PMK and the BJP will contest eight seats each while Vaiko’s MDMK will contest seven. The other two parties have bagged a seat each.
The alliance will take on the two Dravidian parties — Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK and Karunanidhi’s DMK — apart from the Congress and the Left, making it a five-cornered fight.
“We have a formidable alliance in the State. We hope to get at least 25 seats,” said BJP President Rajnath Singh while announcing the new alliance and seat-sharing agreement.
“BJP has attracted more allies in the NDA fold. People want to see an NDA-led government with Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. Unlike the UPA, the BJP is genuinely committed to retaining India's federal character,” he told a press meet attended by over 250 journalists.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, all these parties drew a blank individually. In the Assembly polls in 2011, the DMDK emerged as the second largest party in an alliance with the AIADMK by winning 29 seats, pushing the DMK, which had an alliance with the Congress, to the third place.
Rajnath said the alliance is a historical moment not only for Tamil Nadu but for entire country’s politics. Several southern political parties have joined the NDA to end the misrule of the Congress-led UPA, he said. Tamil Nadu will play a greater role in shaping India’s future, he added. The release of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained in Sri Lankan jail will be the top-most priority for the alliance, he said.
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