Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dropped hints that the Bharatiya Janata Party would forge alliance with old partners in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He said during his interaction with booth level BJP workers of five parliamentary constituencies of Arakkonam, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Erode and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu.
The PM said: "Strong NDA [National Democratic Alliance] is an article of faith for us. It is not a compulsion. Even when the BJP won a majority on its own, we preferred to run the government with our allies. We cherish our old friends and our doors are always open for parties. But more than political issues, the winning alliance is the alliance of the people." "Twenty years ago, the visionary leader Atalji brought in a new culture in Indian politics that is, 'successful coalition politics'. He gave utmost importance to regional aspirations and the BJP has followed the way Atalji has shown us," he added.
He was replying to a question on whether the BJP would ally with the AIADMK, DMK or Rajinikanth. Coming down heavily on the Congress for 'ill-treating' regional parties, Modi said that the former had never cared for regional aspirations unlike what Atalji had done.
