In a significant development that may have a bearing on the DMK-led DPA in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK chief Jayalalitha on Monday extended an open invitation to the PMK, an important ally of the ruling DMK, to join her party front.
“If PMK founder Ramadoss chooses to come to our front, he will be welcomed affectionately,” she told a press meet. Jayalalitha's statement assumes significance in the wake of strained relations between the DMK and the PMK.
The war of words between the PMK and the ruling party took an ugly turn last week when Ramadoss made a scathing attack on Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy for his “inaction” to control private engineering and medical colleges from collecting exorbitant fees.
Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi openly expressed his displeasure over PMKs public attack on his government.
In a swift response, Ramadoss replied that PMK had struck only an electoral alliance with the DMK and now as elections were over, his party would act as a true opposition.