BackLok Sabha elections: DMDK, BJP in talks for Tamil Nadu tie-up
The alliance would give the saffron outfit much-needed boost in a state where it has scant presence
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Chennai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is close to striking a crucial alliance with the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, which would give it much-needed boost in a state where it has scant presence.
Tamil Nadu, dominated by regional outfits, is an important state with 39 parliamentary constituencies, and a party with significant wins could influence the formation of the government at the centre.
The eight-year-old Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijayakant, has been wooed by all major political parties in the run-up to the April-May national election, including the Congress party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
“The DMDK has decided to contest the elections in alliance and has begun talks with the BJP," Press Trust of India quoted Vijayakant as saying in a statement on Thursday.
BJP state unit president Pon Radhakrishnan said he was happy the DMDK had acknowledged the talks with his party, the news agency said.
Tamil Nadu will vote on 24 April.
An alliance with the DMDK will significantly benefit the BJP as it will gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu, said Gnani Sankaran, a Chennai-based political commentator.
In the 2006 assembly election, the DMDK had contested in all 234 constituencies in the state, but only Vijayakant could manage a win. Despite this, the DMDK had an 8.38% vote share in the state, the third largest, splitting the votes for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, the DMDK did not win in any of 39 seats it contested in Tamil Nadu, but improved its vote share to 10.1%. Two years later, in the 2011 assembly election, the DMDK emerged the second largest party behind its ally the AIADMK, winning 29 seats. But the alliance soured quickly and the DMDK became the main opposition party in the state.
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