CHENNAI: Amid speculation that the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) is all set to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), party general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant on Wednesday dismissed the reports, asserting that no one had approached the party for alliance talks so far.
Speaking to reporters at the DMDK headquarters in Koyambedu here, Premalatha said neither Union Minister Piyush Goyal nor any other NDA leader had contacted her or the party, either in person or over the phone.
"I have repeatedly clarified this. Journalists seem more eager about our alliance than our own party cadres. We have received no call or communication from the NDA. No one has approached us," she said.
On the contrary, she praised the DMK government. She lauded the Tamil Nadu Police and the State government for swiftly arresting the accused in the Madurai LIC manager killing in a fire sabotage. Premalatha also expressed grief over the deaths caused by a helium gas cylinder explosion at a festival in Kallakurichi, welcoming the government for extending compensation to the victims' families.
Stating that she was unaware of the purpose of Goyal's visit to Chennai, Premalatha remarked, "Piyush Goyal has not spoken to me. I don't even know why he has come here. I learned from news reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Chennai on the 23rd. I don't know which event it is for."
She also rejected speculation about talks involving the AIADMK and the BJP. "As of this minute, there have been no discussions with either the AIADMK or the BJP. When an alliance decision is taken, we will officially announce it by calling the media," she said, adding that the decision would be made only after consultations with district secretaries.
Premalatha said the party would undertake a campaign from January 24 to February 2 and that alliance-related decisions would follow internal deliberations.