MK Stalin Snubs PM Narendra Modi, Says 'DMK Will Never Align With BJP'
DMK, led by Stalin's father M Karunanidhi had supported the Vajpayee government in 1999.
Chennai, January 11: DMK chief MK Stalin on Friday said his party will never align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Ruling out the possibility of a BJP-DMK tie-up for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Stalin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not like former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. DMK, led by Stalin's father M Karunanidhi had supported the Vajpayee government in 1999.
"DMK will never align with BJP, and Modi is not Vajpayee. The alliance under him is not a healthy alliance. It is an irony that PM Modi compares himself with Vajpayee," Stalin said, as reported by news agency ANI. Stalin's statement came a day after PM Modi said that "doors are open to all" for an alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
While interacting with BJP's booth-level workers from five districts in Tamil Nadu through video-conferencing, PM Modi recalled the "successful coalition politics" ushered in by former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the 1990s and said the BJP's doors were "always open". PM Modi was asked by one BJP worker if the party will ally with AIADMK, DMK or Rajinikanth, yet to form his political party.
The BJP’s support for the burial of Karunanidhi on Marina Beach has led to whispers that the party is cosying up to the DMK. The Stalin-led party now has the upper hand in Tamil Nadu over the splintered AIADMK. Besides, the BJP-AIADMK bond is currently under strain.
The BJP had fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu leading a rainbow alliance comprising smaller parties including PMK, MDMK of Vaiko and won two of the 39 seats -- one each by the party and PMK.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2019 01:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).