Will AIADMK, BJP fight by-poll together?

Political analyst Ravindran Duraisamy said, “Any alliance in this by-election will not go well either for the AIADMK or the BJP. It will not materialise. Both will play their cards close to the chest. Alliance will work in their favour in assembly and general elections. It may not work even in the ensuing local body polls.” 

Senior Minister Ma Foi K Pandiarajan said, they were presently focusing all their energy on retrieving the ‘Two-Leaves’ symbol frozen by the Election Commission, and did not rule out the option of an alliance with the BJP. 

“We are contesting. Things would fan out based on the finality of the hearing with EC in the symbol case and the time taken for the disposal by the EC. We will get a direction soon after that. We will make our decision public thereafter,” Pandiarajan said. 

However, Pandiarajan hastened to add that there has been no such move in the offing. But, he was quick enough to state that he cannot answer offhandedly. He pointed out that DMDK leader Vijayakanth, who fielded a candidate in the rescinded by-poll, had chosen not to contest this time, whereas the by-poll for RK Nagar will be completed before December 31. 

Political commentator Govi Lenin observed that the chances for a truck between the ruling faction and the BJP in RK Nagar by-poll were slim. “It is a single seat. They would not risk it. Both factions in the AIADMK and the BJP would field their candidates. As vote share is a crucial component in any alliance talks, the BJP would not give it a miss. If the ruling dispensation could get the party symbol, the credit would naturally go to the BJP, which, in turn, help them formalise terms for the alliance,” he reasoned.