The pre-poll alliance between the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and the Left parties -- CPI and CPI(M) -- seem to have put a damper on the BJP-led NDA's southward march.
NEW DELHI: The pre-poll alliance between the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and the Left parties -- CPI and CPI(M) -- seem to have put a damper on the BJP-led NDA's southward march.
The saffron party was in talks with AIADMK in its bid to scout for new allies for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
After tasting victory in the assembly elections of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and most recently in Karnataka, a buoyant BJP has wooed former NDA allies back into the camp.
Some of the regional parties like AGP and INLD have already responded to the come back call of the NDA after its prospects arguably brightens due to the recent wins.
After an impressive victory in Karnataka this year, the BJP was eyeing regional political parties from the southern states for an electoral alliance for the next Lok Sabha polls.
Some BJP leaders have been trying to persuade AIADMK for the past few months to join the NDA.
Like all regional parties, AIADMK is driven by state politics and since its main rival DMK is with the Congress-led UPA, BJP was hopeful it will join NDA.
However, Jayalalithaa decided that she was better-off with the non-BJP, non-Congress alliance.
Reacting to the AIADMK-Left parties alliance, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "Lots of political realignments will take place before the polls. But BJP has nothing to worry."
He denied that BJP was trying to win over Jayalalithaa. "There was communication between us and it is still there. But no talks of an alliance," he maintained.
Taking the AIADMK-Left tie-up in its stride, BJP has said if it does well in the Lok Sabha polls, several parties would line up to join the NDA.
BJP leaders feel its post-poll strength will "guide the state of affairs in future". Regional parties like TDP, DMK, LJP, RLD and Manipur Peoples' Party may contest on their own and join the NDA post-poll if it emerges as a contender for power, feel the BJP leaders.
JD(U), Akali Dal and BJD have stayed loyal to the NDA banner throughout.
Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats and AIADMK failed to open its account in the 2004 general elections. However, it is hopeful of reaping a good harvest this time due to anti-incumbency, which is a well-known phenomenon in Tamil Nadu politics.
BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its search for allies across the country. The saffron party has learnt its lessons after the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government fell and BJP since then is trying to shrug off the "politically untouchable" label by the secular parties. It is trying to win as many political allies as possible this time.
AIADMK had allied with NDA in 1998 but was also the first to pull the rug when Jayalalithaa hosted the "infamous tea party" which planned the fall of the NDA government.
Later, relations between AIADMK and BJP reached a new low when Jayalalithaa drew the ire of the Sangh Parivar for ordering the arrest of Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati in connection with a murder case.
Meanwhile, NDA found an ally in DMK after the 1999 polls.
Later, DMK joined the Congress-led UPA government and in 2004, AIADMK contested on its own.
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