DMDK chief Vijayakanth snubs BJP, refuses to meet Union minister Prakash Javadekar

CHEENNAI: In a sign that the DMDK is shying away from an alliance with the BJP , DMDK chief Vijayakanth virtually snubbed Union minister and BJP pointsman for the Tamil Nadu elections Prakash Javadekar by avoiding a meeting with him on Thursday and taking off on a tour of his constituency Rishivandiyam in Viluppuram district.

Premalatha, Vijayakanth's wife, denied there was any talk on alliances and she had been visiting her mother in Vadapalani while Vijaya kanth was in Rishivandiyam.

With BJP general secretary Mur lidhar Rao also in the city, there was much speculation earlier in the day about him joining Javadekar for last minute talks to persuade Vijaya kanth to come on board the NDA against the backdrop of the DMK DMDK inching closer to a deal. Java dekar's visit, under cover of an offi cial function at the Anna University , caught the state party unit by complete surprise. State BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararjan was in Tirupati on a personal visit.

Local party cadres were left redfaced as they had no intimation about Javadekar's impending visit."We learned that Javadekarji wanted to keep his visit a secret and exited the Chennai airport from the departure lounge. Where was the need for such subterfuge?" a party functionary asked. However, state BJP leader Tamilisai in a damage-control mode said, "Javadekar was on an official visit that had nothing to do with alliance talks and it is not necessary that he should always announce his travel plans." Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan also told reporters that there were no alliance talks during the day .



Javadekar had on February 28 said he intended to visit Chennai again after the budget. The next day , however, BJP sources had said Javadekar would not be coming to Chennai this week as he was in favour of the state party chief Tamilisai Soundararajan to convincing Vijayakanth to seal the deal before he comes visiting to officially announce it. Significantly , the DMDK had issued a press statement on February 28 within hours of Javadekar meeting Vijayakanth at the latter's suburban residence that it was a courtesy call.

Earlier in December last year, Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP national general secretary in-charge of TN, Murlidhar Rao had an infructuous meeting with the DMDK chief at the latter's residence following his remarks he was not sure his party was with the NDA.