Ponnar denies AIADMK-BJP pact, sparks debate

During the recent bypolls to Nanguneri and Vikravandi Assembly constituencies, the AIADMK demanded an alliance with the BJP. Now there is no such alliance pact with the AIADMK,” Radhakrishnan said.

Further, I cannot comment on the alliance subject which is decided by the party high command. The BJP high command will soon decide in this regard, the former minister said.

This is the second time within a week the BJP is targeting the AIADMK. Pon Radhakrishnan earlier endorsed the views of Superstar Rajinikanth, who said that there is a political vacuum in Tamil Nadu due to lack of strong leadership. Radhakrishnan said Rajinikanth was factually correct as there are no strong leaders in the state like Kamaraj, MGR, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, who can command mass following. Such strong leadership is missing now, Radhakrishnan said.

Though the AIADMK chose to react calmly, Minister D Jayakumar took a veiled attack against actor Rajinikanth and said that the actors are ambitious with political aspirations.

“Actor Kamal Haasan, who recently floated a party has recorded 6 per cent of votes, whereas actor Rajinikanth is a nonstarter and is yet to decide about his political future. Let Rajini first start a party, then we can react,” Jayakumar said. AIADMK is like a lion and no force can match the strength and might of the party founded by matinee idol MGR, Jayakumar said. We are confident of facing the civic polls and the party is ready to take on the opposition, Jayakumar said.

“It is the BJP which wants the AIADMK as a platform to gain foot hold in Tamil Nadu. The statement of Pon Radhakrishnan is a political drama to get more mayor and chairmen seat from the AIADMK,” said an AIADMK leader, who is in the poll panel of AIADMK election monitoring committee. “We will be happy to contest the civic polls without the BJP and the national party is a very minor player in politics of Tamil Nadu,” the AIADMK senior said.

It was AIADMK which kept the BJP away during Vellore Lok Sabha elections and the AIADMK does not need to bank on the BJP for any electoral gains, he added.

DMK organising secretary RS Bharati on Monday cautioned former BJP minister Pon Radhakrishnan not to make baseless allegations against the DMK to end his political ‘vanvas.’

Bharati also dared the BJP leader to speak about the economic mismanagement of the Centre and the corruption of the incumbent AIADMK regime.

Taking exception to Radhakrishnan’s statements on the Murasoli land issue, Bharati said the person who has been rejected by the people of Kanniyakumari was attempting to come out of political gloom.

Recalling Stalin’s statement that they would produce documents relating to Murasoli land issue before the appropriate forum and those who make allegations against the DMK on the issue must produce the evidence, the DMK organising secretary said that Radhakrishnan who had ‘retired’ from politics should produce evidence on the land issue or explore alternate means to secure the post of the president of state BJP.

Remarking that the former minister should not come forward to make allegations against the DMK just because the DMK was willing to pounce on every opportunity to target the party, the DMK Rajya Sabha MP dared Radhakrishnan to speak about the economic mismanagement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime which has rendered innumerable youths jobless.

“If he cannot criticise his party, let him criticise the AIADMK with whom they have allied with or traders who fear for their livelihood,” Bharati said, warning the BJP leader not to level baseless charges against the DMK.