DMDK ready for alliance with national parties: Vijayakant

NEW DELHI: Indicating a change in his stand, actor-politician Vijayakant today said his party was ready to forge an alliance with any national party provided they give a "written understanding" that it will solve the problems of the people of Tamil Nadu.

"We will extend our assistance and support to whichever party that comes to power at Delhi provided we are equally satisfied that it will give good governance to our country as a whole and particularly solve the long-pending problems of the people of Tamil Nadu," the chief of DMDK party, which played a role in the defeat of AIADMK in the 2006 assembly elections, told a press conference here.

"We are ready for alliance. But the national party should give an understanding that it will solve the problems of the Tamil people and should strive hard to protect the interests of the neglected sections," Vijayakant, an MLA, said.

Noting that there are a number of issues such as Cauvery, Mullaperiyar and Hogenakkal which have not been solved for many years now, he said the DMDK hopes that it can sort out all these if it "shares power" at the Centre.

Asked about a senior Congress leader's reported remarks that Congress was not ready to forge an alliance with DMDK, Vijayakant shot back, "Where does the question of an alliance arise? I never discussed about having an alliance with any party. I am not after any political party".

However, keeping his options open for an alliance with the Congress, he said, "anything can happen in politics".

"Elections come and go. But people's problems remains the same. So, whichever party is ready for an understanding with us... we can talk to them," the DMDK leader said.

With more than eight per cent votes in last assembly elections, the party won one seat but could prove to be a spoiler for the major parties.