DMDK joining PWA leaves BJP red-faced

Chennai: DMDK founder Vijayakanth’s announcement on sealing poll pact with MDMK chief Vaiko-led PWA, has left the BJP here red-faced. The announcement, which came on the day of BJP chief Amit Shah’s visit to city, has nevertheless left BJP high and dry and Kamalalayam,  party state headquarters, here saw a flurry of leaders attempting to play down their loss.

Till yesterday, the constant refrain of many leaders in the BJP had  been that those opposed to ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK should strengthen the NDA and the party desperately attempted to woo Vijayakanth to its side.

Recovering from the shock of Vijayakanth abandoning his party, BJP senior and national executive member L. Ganesan, making light of the situation, said, “Now the confusion on alliance has ended. This is consoling. I am happy it has ended.”
Expectations were high that Vijayakanth would join NDA. “At least now he has finally announced his decision,” Ganesan explained and denied that the BJP was disappointed over the sudden political development. “There is no

disappointment. Vijayakanth has either to align with NDA or join PWA. He chose the latter,” he added.

Accusing the PWA of going back on its assurance of not announcing its CM candidate before the May election, Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan said  the PWA did not stand any chance of winning a single seat. On the Vaiko-led alliance’s acceptance of Vikayakanth leading the front,  Radhakrishnan said he was reminded of a famous one-liner from Rajini’s film (Padayappa): “He is the bridegroom, but the dress he is wearing is mine.”

Realising that they could not win a single seat in the election, PWA leaders roped in Vijayakanth to at least retain their poll deposit. “Whether he (Vijayakanth) becomes Chief Minister or not he has become the chief ministerial candidate. My wishes to brother captain,” Radhakrishnan sarcastically remarked.
 Refusing to accept that her party’s NDA experiment in Tamil Nadu turned into a fiasco, state president  Tamilisai Soundararajan said the BJP would face the election “boldly” with people’s well-being in mind. The PWA, which lacked people’s support, would not cause any impact in the polls with inclusion of Vijayakanth’s DMDK. “This is not a setback to BJP or NDA. One 0 has joined with another 0. Zero has no value on its own. I feel sad for Vijayakanth who has ignored  people’s well-being,” she said and claimed that the BJP would form alliance with like-minded parties and face the elections. “We are strong enough to contest in all the 234 constituencies,” she added.