State BJP against PMK entry into NDA

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 8. Even while the State BJP stoutly opposed any move to re-admit the PMK into the NDA now, the party's national vice-president, Mr. V. Rama Rao, today declared that the NDA would take a collective decision on the issue.

Talking to the media at State BJP headquarters here, Mr. Rama Rao said the party president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy, while reacting to the prospect of the Trinamool Congress rejoining the NDA, had stated that NDA was not a ``choultry'' for parties to ``walk in and out'' when it pleased them. ``It holds good for the PMK as well,'' Mr. Rama Rao said.

However, the NDA would discuss the issue of re- admitting the Trinamool Congress and the PMK, he added.

When pointed out that the NDA convenor, Mr. George Fernandes, had welcomed the reported moves of the PMK to ally with the NDA, Mr. Rama Rao said the Samata Party leader had only expressed his personal opinion. ``The NDA will take a collective decision on the issue.''

However, the State BJP general secretary, Mr. L. Ganesan, made it clear that the PMK was not welcome to rejoin the NDA now. ``Re- admitting the PMK is not advisable. It will not add glory to either the PMK or the NDA.''

What was the ``necessity and urgency'' to take back the PMK which had deserted the DMK-led NDA on the eve of the Assembly elections, he asked. ``It will be perceived as opportunistic.''

Asked if the PMK's addition would not strengthen the NDA in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Ganesan said there was no urgency to strengthen the NDA as the local body elections were not fought on a ``party basis.''

When the NDA was yet to admit the Trinamool Congress which quit the alliance on the eve of the recent Assembly election in West Bengal, the PMK too should be treated in a similar manner, he added.

Meanwhile, in Vellore, the DPI convener, Mr. R. Thirumavalavan, while welcoming Mr. Ganesan's stand, appealed to the NDA not to determine political relations based on ``political opportunism'' alone.

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Section  : Southern States
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