The ties between the AIADMK and the BJP, which saw several ups and downs in the last nearly three years, now appear to be steady. The AIADMK, which gave the impression that it was drifting away from the BJP after their alliance was routed in Tamil Nadu in the last Lok Sabha polls, has quelled all speculations. In the run-up to the election to the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency [held in early August], it was quite open that the AIADMK had adopted a “hands off” approach towards the BJP. “That’s how you should see our action towards the BJP,” Mr. Semmalai rationalises, adding that the vacancy for the post of the State BJP unit was the reason behind the delay in his party’s request. The DMK, by continuing to harp on the anti-BJP narrative, is under the impression that this will fetch the desired results now, as happened in the Lok Sabha polls.

Source: The Hindu October 10, 2019 13:07 UTC