DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Friday described the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as a “hard worker” and a “good friend”.
Mr. Karunanidhi’s remark came in an interview to Tamil daily Dinamalar, in which he also refrained from commenting on a possible post-election tie-up with the BJP.
“The hectic election campaign by Modi shows he is a hard worker. He is also a good friend of mine,” he said when asked about his “personal opinion” on the Gujarat Chief Minister.
Asked whether his announcement in the recent DMK State conference that the party would not align with “communal forces”, meant the BJP, Mr. Karunanidhi shot back: “Are you giving a confessional statement that BJP is communal?”
When asked if there was a chance for the DMK joining the BJP-led alliance post elections, he said he “cannot speculate and tell what will be the situation after the Lok Sabha polls”.
The DMK chief’s response assumes significance as it comes two months after he ruled out any alliance with the BJP besides former ally Congress, in his party’s general council.
However, DMK Organising Secretary T.K.S. Elangovan sought to play down Mr. Karunanidhi’s remarks saying it was his personal opinion.
“It shows his political maturity. It is however his personal opinion. Our leader has regards for Sonia (Gandhi) and vice versa,” he said indicating that there is no political significance in such observation.
Mr. Modi has attacked the DMK in the context of the 2G spectrum scam in which senior party leaders Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minister A. Raja are accused.
Incidentally, Mr. Karunanidhi had in December 2013 denied media reports about a possible alliance between the DMK and the BJP.
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