“Earlier he was speaking with Rahul Gandhi, then with KCR and now with Modi.”TN BJP President Tamilisai Soundararajan
When reporters questioned Tamil Nadu BJP President Tamilisai Soundararajan during a press meet in Tuticorin on Tuesday, 14 May, she said that DMK is in talks with BJP.
“Yes Stalin is in talks with BJP. Stalin is speaking to us only after knowing that BJP will win the elections. MK Stalin is changing colours now,” she added. She refused to elaborate when questioned further.
Stalin has challenged Soundararajan, asking for proof. In a statement issued, he said:
“I am ready to resign from politics if Tamilisai or Narendra Modi can prove that I am in touch with BJP . If they fail to prove will they resign?”
This comes just a day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao met DMK President MK Stalin, stirring controversy.
Stalin added that he strongly condemned Soundararajan’s statement and said “it is nothing new for them (BJP) to create confusion whenever they are about to lose.”
“The BJP which couldn't tolerate my campaigns against them, they have stooped to this level,” he added.
Stalin clarified that the meeting with KCR was a courtesy call, “but certain people with intentions are trying to give new colour to the meeting.”
He even pointed out at the AIADMK-BJP alliance saying, “Like AIADMK and BJP we never broke any deal behind the screen.”
“It is DMK which proposed Rahul Gandhi’s name for PM candidature first and it is me who has called PM Modi sadist, fascist and dictator.”MK Stalin, DMK President
“We are determined to send the ruling BJP government packing and we are doubly sure of making Rahul Gandhi PM,” he added.
‘No Chance for a Third Front’
Earlier this morning, Stalin spoke to reporters at the Chennai airport saying that he “doesn't see a chance” for a third front.
“It doesn’t seem to me that there is a chance for that (third front). However, all that will be decided only after counting on 23 May.”MK Stalin, DMK President
“He (KCR) did not come to form alliances. He came to Tamil Nadu to offer prayers in various temples and on that basis, sought an appointment with me for a courtesy call. That is all,” he said.
What Happened at the KCR-Stalin Meet
When talks began that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader (TRS) was going to meet MK Stalin in Chennai, speculations were rife that this was a call for the DMK to join the coalition of regional parties.
Sources said that the two discussed forming a government that isn’t the BJP. Sources said that KCR had come to persuade Stalin to join the anti-BJP and anti-Congress front. But Stalin chose to stick with Congress.
Stalin said that “he would remain a link between him and the Congress party”.
Sources told The News Minute that the two leaders spoke about why a Narendra Modi-led BJP government cannot come to power again and discussed the ways in which such a political situation could be dealt with.
“Throughout the meeting, Stalin stuck to his stand on the Congress. Rao urged him and the DMK to ensure prominence for regional parties, and look at the political situation not just from the point of view of the Congress,” sources told The Hindu.
It is to be noted that Stalin was the first leader to announce Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate.
“Our leader was firm on Rahul Gandhi being the prime ministerial candidate. He impressed upon KCR to strengthen the UPA,” DMK Spokesperson A Saravanan told NDTV after yesterday's meeting.
A leader from the TRS camp told The News Minute, “We won't let Narendra Modi and Amit Shah come back to power. If that requires supporting Congress or asking the Congress to support a coalition, we are fine with either.”
KCR had met Stalin in April too as part of his outreach to regional parties.
The Telangana Chief Minister has already reached out to his Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Mamata Banerjee in Bengal. He also has the support from Jaganmohan Reddy, chief of the opposition YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh.
KCR probably wishes to repeat the "1996-formula," which is a reference to the mid-90s when HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral became prime ministers representing the United Front government, which enjoyed outside support from the Congress.
(With inputs from The Hindu, The News Minute)
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