Let's go it alone and prove our strength, says BJP

Chennai: Though it may be early for the civic bodies polls, the saffron party here wants all the political parties to contest alone and prove their strength. Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan who was among the few leaders who played a key role in forging a rainbow alliance for the 2014 Lok Sabha election in TN, appears to be against alliance or any electoral alliance among parties for the local bodies elections.

There appears to be a shift in the party's approach to elections post the Assembly elections. "All political parties including the ruling AIADMK, DMK and the Congress should contest alone and prove their strength," he said while ruling out any truck with any parties. "A majority of the people endorse this idea," he says. The minister has even undertaken a campaign in the social media pitching in for a contest sans electoral alliance and claims nearly 68  per cent of people say his views are correct.

“We have commenced the work to strengthen our base. We have not yet decided on alliance for the local bodies elections at our executive meeting," Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said when sought for her reaction. However, the state government's move to introduce indirect election to Mayors of corporation did echo at the BJP's state executive meeting at the temple town of Palani, near Madurai on Saturday. Expressing strong protect, the party said the indirect election would not only lead to horse-trading but also make Mayor's post insecure.  

“Hence, the government should revert to previous practice of the people directly electing the Mayors,” a resolution passed at the meeting said.