The statue diplomacy between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the friendship between the two chief ministers has set tongues wagging.
The statue diplomacy between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the friendship between the two chief ministers has set tongues wagging that the BJP and the DMK might be warming up to each other.
Witness this. After unveiling the statue of Kannada saint Sarvajna in Chennai on Thursday, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said, “I see in Karunanidhi my elder brother and am greatly honoured to be unveiling this statue.”
Karunanidhi too, said that he was elated to welcome a “younger sibling” into his fold and they would together work for the welfare of the people. Karunanidhi had called Yeddyurappa his thambi (younger brother) while unveiling poet-saint Thiruvalluvar’s statue in Bangalore on August 9. This bonhomie between two men has surprised observers.
“I’m happy that a BJP chief minister took the decision to have the Tamil Nadu CM unveil the statue,” said L Ganesan, the BJP chief of Tamil Nadu. “There was a feeling that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are like India and Pakistan. The statues bridged the divide between us. But, this wasn’t done with the idea of having an alliance with DMK.”
“I don’t see a BJP-DMK equation,” said Loyola College history reader Bernard D’Sami. “The Congress-DMK equation isn’t all that great but I don’t expect any poll pact between BJP and DMK.”
A BJP leader said, “I don’t believe that the DMK and BJP can work on the same plank.”
However, Karunanidhi might be using the opportunity to send a message to the Congress.”He feels hurt at the way Congress has been treating DMK,” said a party leader. “He’s sending a message that neighbours can solve pending issues without the Centre’s intervention.”
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