JOIN USAfter the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Sunday’s inconclusive meeting on the Presidential election, the AIADMK is keenly watching the developments in the backdrop of senior BJP leader L K Advani having called on Chief Minister J Jayalalitha here a few days ago.
Jayalalitha had suggested a “coordinated approach” during her meeting with Advani on the Presidential election issue. It is seen in political circles as very significant since Tamil Nadu Chief Minister along with her Odisha counterpart had proposed the name of the former Lok Sabha Speaker, P A Sangma for the high office, even as the NDA is yet to decide on whom to field against UPA’s nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
Even as Jayalalitha made no formal statement till Sunday evening, sources said she could indicate something at a huge marriage function for 1006 couples from across the State being organised on Monday on the outskirts of Chennai.
Significantly, with former president A P J Abdul Kalam’s name seriously doing the rounds as a possible NDA candidate, Karunanidhi on Sunday said he was misquoted on his recent remarks about the word ‘Kalam’ in Tamil having a connotation of ‘confusion’.
Karunanidhi, talking to reporters at the DMK headquarters here, denied any knowledge about moves by the NDA to “brace up” for an electoral fight against Pranab and clarified that some people sought to “twist” his remarks on Kalam. “I hold him (Kalam) in high regards and esteem and he knows it very well,” he said, dispelling impressions that he was pre-empting Kalam’s entry into the race.
Asked if a contest against Mukherjee became a reality, Karunanidhi said the latter’s chances of winning “is very bright”. “No comments,” the DMK chief retorted on Advani’s reported remarks that the Congress camp “lacked clarity” on the issue.
To another query, Karunanidhi said the DMK would host a big reception and dinner for Mukherjee when he visits Chennai on June 30 asking for support of MPs’ and MLAs’ from Tamil Nadu.