BJP contests Vaiko's claim on 'bargaining' with Vijayakant

COIMBATORE: BJP today contested MDMK general secretary Vaiko's claims that it had "bargained" with Vijayakant-led DMDK to join NDA for the May 16 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, saying it was "totally wrong".

"What is the necessity for BJP to offer money or bargain with Vijayakant? If it is vice-versa, the remarks would have been true. Vaiko's claim is totally wrong," member of BJP national executive L Ganesan told reporters here.

However, he said, BJP was happy to learn about DMDK's decision to join People's Welfare Front, as BJP expedited election work and announced a list of 54 candidates within 24 hours, making it the first party in the state to release the list for the polls.

On March 25, Vaiko had claimed DMK had "offered" 80 (Assembly) seats and Rs 500 crore to Vijayakant for joining its alliance while BJP had offered him a Rajya Sabha MP post and a ministerial berth in the Union Cabinet.

DMK chief Karunanidhi had that day sent a legal notice to Vaiko, warning of civil and criminal proceedings against him for his charge that DMK had offered money to DMDK over forging electoral alliance.

Vaiko had said he would face it legally in the court.

On March 23, Vijayakant aligned with People's Welfare Front with the actor-turned-politician being declared as chief ministerial candidate of the alliance.

DMDK got the lion's share of 124 of the 234 Assembly constituencies while PWF constituents - MDMK, CPI(M), CPI and VCK, will field candidates from the remaining 110.