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DMK set to join BJP-led alliance

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamil Nadu's ruling party, has taken the lead in almost firming up its alliance for the next Lok Sabha election with the Bharatiya Janata Party and three other parties, all erstwhile allies of its arch-rival, the All-India Anna DMK.

The BJP's emissary, Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, was the latest to hold talks with DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Pattali Makkal Katchi founder-leader S Ramadoss and Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress president and Union Petroleum Minister Vazhapadi Ramamurthy have already held separate preliminary talks with Karunanidhi since yesterday. Marumalarchi DMK chief Vaiko has also welcomed a tie-up with the DMK.

Emerging from hour-long talks with Kumaramangalam in Madras this evening, Karunanidhi declared that only a BJP-led front could provide a stable government at the Centre. He said a stable government at the Centre headed by the BJP would be in the interests of Tamil Nadu as well as the country.

Describing the meeting as "very cordial", Kumaramangalam said he had met the DMK president on the directive of BJP president Shashikant 'Kushabhau' Thakre and campaign committee chairman Lal Kishenchand Advani.

"I have come here to communicate to Karunanidhi that the BJP is interested in having an alliance with the DMK," he added.

But he said the discussions were preliminary in nature and details could not be disclosed at this stage.

Karunanidhi said a formal announcement on the alliance would be made after the election schedule is fixed.

Kumaramangalam said he believed the DMK was a mature party with an ideology and the national interest in mind.

He parried a question whether he still believes activities of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence continue in Tamil Nadu and the DMK government pursuing corruption cases against AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha amounts to a witch-hunt.

Asked whether the question of the BJP proving its secular credentials figured in the discussions, Karunanidhi also evaded a direct reply, saying the DMK would remain steadfast in its commitment to protect the interests of the minorities.

He gave the 13-month rule of the BJP-led government a clean chit, saying it had not done anything to harm the interests of the minorities.

When reminded of the attacks on Christians, he conceded that such incidents did occur in Gujarat, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, but the DMK and its estranged allies had vehemently condemned them.

"We had then launched a one crore [10 million] signature campaign and took a pledge to protect the interests of the minorities. I am sure Mr Vajpayee would have read the pledge," he added.

While the DMK is thus way ahead in evolving its electoral strategy, the AIADMK is yet to make any move in this direction.

The Tamil Maanila Congress, the earlier electoral ally of the DMK, is now virtually out of the DMK-led front. In a situation where the Left parties, the Janata Dal and the Indian National League could emerge as its possible allies, party chief G K Moopanar is now camping in Delhi, apparently to woo the Congress.

EARLIER REPORTS:
PMK begins talks on alliance with DMK
DMK inching closer to BJP-led front

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