With the BJP indicating the possibility of an alliance with the AIADMK in the event of the NDA falling short of the magic figure of 272, both parties are relying on the “excellent personal rapport” between Narendra Modi and Jayalalithaa to clinch a deal.
“Channels between the two parties never went cold. Narendra Modi and Jayalalithaa have excellent personal rapport which we could bank on,” a source said. A BJP leader in Chennai said they would “consult our allies” (in Tamil Nadu) before deciding on taking in new allies.
The AIADMK supremo had been maintaining since last year that her party would have no truck with either the BJP or the Congress in the run-up to the polls.
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Ms. Jayalalithaa had built on that strategy, roping in the two main Left parties, but later showed them the door before the AIADMK’s campaign began. While she was being criticised for being “silent” on the BJP and Mr. Modi, towards the campaign-end, the AIADMK leader took on the Gujarat Chief Minister on that State’s development model. AIADMK sources said the BJP opened the channels of communication even when she was staying at Kodanad in the Nilgiris.