BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan reached out to her ally and DMDK leader Vijayakant on Wednesday to control the damage in public perception that many party leaders felt the recent Arun Jaitley-Jayalalithaa meeting had caused.
Sources said that at a meeting, which lasted for 30 minutes at the DMDK headquarters here, Ms. Tamilisai wanted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to field a candidate in the Srirangam Assembly by-poll, but was more than willing to support the DMDK if it wanted to enter the fray — a clear climbdown from the assertive position the BJP took on contesting the by-election just weeks ago.
Mr. Vijayakant is understood to have told the BJP team, which also consisted of organising secretary S. Mohanrajulu, to wait for a day or two for him to make the decision. Within the DMDK, there was a view that the BJP was approaching it at the last minute since its position had weakened following the Jaitley-Jayalalithaa meeting. A senior DMDK MLA said Mr. Vijayakant raised this subject at the meeting , though he did not dwell upon the issue too long.
“Basically, this is a question of commitment of the BJP to its allies. They cannot keep in touch with the AIADMK and expect us to continue our support. We will announce our decision in two days,” the leader said, adding that the district unit had to be consulted to see if there was a strong candidate available.
However, Ms. Tamilisai told The Hindu that the Jaitely-Jayalalithaa meeting did not figure in the deliberations with Mr. Vijayakant.
“Whether it is a BJP candidate or a DMDK candidate, the fact is that the NDA will contest the by-poll. That is certain,” she said.
Already, the PMK, led by S. Ramadoss, the other major ally of the BJP, had categorically said it would boycott the by-poll and would not extend its support to any party.
