Even as there were speculations in political arena that the AIADMK and the BJP would forge an alliane, two senior leaders of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have spoken against pact with the national party. AIADMK veteran and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai has that his party would not allow the BJP to piggyback on its shoulders to establish itself in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore on Thursday, he said, "What sin has the AIADMK committed to carry the BJP on its shoulders? There is no scope for the BJP to establish itself in the State."
This was his reaction to Tuglak Editor S Gurumurthy's reported statement that the AIADMK must align with the BJP to facilitate the latter gaining ground in Tamil Nadu. "We will strive hard for further development of our party and shall not give room for the BJP or any other party to grow, nor shall we go with them," he added.
"When we are trying to grow, there is no chance for the AIADMK to take the BJP on its shoulders and allow it to gain a foothold," he said further. For his part, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said, "BJP may wish to have an alliance with us, but our party should also wish the same." He added: "As far as AIADMK is concerned, a consensus among all rungs of leadership starting from party coordinator and chief minister to grassroot level functionaries is a must."
