BJP sews up its Tamil Nadu front with DMDK, MDMK, PMK

Chennai, March 15 (IANS) The BJP Saturday finalised its alliance formation in Tamil Nadu with DMDK, MDMK, PMK and two other small parties, said a party official.

The alliance formation was on the verge of breaking up with the actor-turned-politician A.Vijayakant's DMDK unilaterally announced its candidates for five Lok Sabha constituencies Friday and he went on the campaign trail Friday, upsetting the BJ.

"At one point we were ready say bye to the DMDK," a Bharatiya Janata Party leader told IANS.

The Bharatiya Janata Party in-charge for Tamil Nadu, it is learnt, had even told DMDK's top officials to announce the party's candidates for all the 39 seats in the state.

According to the BJP official, DMDK has been allotted 14 seats, the BJP and PMK eight each, the MDMK seven and one each for two minor parties.

Heaving a sigh of relief, a BJP official said perhaps this is the first time in state a strong alliance against AIADMK and DMK has been formed with a national party.

The change of scene was also reflected at the ground level with Vijayakant at an election rally said: "Modi should become the prime minister if India is to become a super power."

He also confirmed that his party is part of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) adding that the national party would announce the list of candidates.