Will PMK snap alliance with BJP?

DHARMAPURI/CHENNAI: PMK, one of BJP's allies in Tamil Nadu, gave enough indications that all was not well in the saffron combine when its founder leader S Ramadoss announced candidates for four Lok Sabha seats, giving rise to speculation the party might opt out of the alliance.

The PMK chief introduced his son, former union health minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss (Dharmapuri), Attur Shanmugam (Kallakurichi), R Arul (Salem), and Ehiroli Manian (Thiruvannamalai) to the elecotrate at a public meeting in Dharmapuri.

Though BJP has not officially declared the numbers and names of constituencies to be contested by the party and its partners, it is believed that Kallakurichi, Salem and Thiruvannamalai have been allocated to DMDK.

By announcing his party candidates for Lok Sabha seats perceived to be allocated to another ally in the BJP combine, there is speculation that the Vanniyar dominated party might consider walking out of the saffron alliance.

However, earlier in the day, PMK President GK Mani told reporters in Chennai that the PMK's alliance with BJP was a "victory alliance."

Party sources said that functionaries from districts considered Vanniyar strongholds like Salem are pressurising the top leadership to get such seats for the party or walk out if that was not possible.

After announcing candidates, Ramadoss and Anbumani carefully avoided reference to the BJP and Narendra Modi in the party's introduction of candidates to the electorate.

"Give a landmark victory to Anbumani. The margin should be so huge that Dharmapuri seat should be the talk at the national level. He is not a PMK candidate. He is a common candidate... common to all sections of the electorate," Ramadoss said.

Stating that in 1989 Parliamentary elections, PMK had bagged two lakh votes just months after the party's launch, he said 25 years later, PMK should win by a margin of at least five lakh votes.

Anbumani said the National Rural Health Mission introduced during his tenure as minister was appreciated by UN and said he would make Dharmapuri a fully developed district if elected. "This is my manifesto and promise," he said.

The BJP-led alliance in the state comprises DMDK, MDMK, PMK, IJK and Kongu party.