AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Thursday ousted K Malaisamy, a former IAS officer-turned-politician, from the primary membership of the party for talking out of turn and against the policy of the AIADMK and hinting that the party might support a NDA Government at the Centre. At the same time, the Congress suggested secular parties should rally around West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to stop the BJP from coming to power.
In related development, the TRS kept its options open on support even as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ruled out backing Narendra Modi-led NDA Government because of the “stigma” of 2002 riots. Admitting that it may be difficult for Congress to form the government, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, “It may be difficult for us to form the government, but all secular forces should come together to keep Narendra Modi away from power.”
“Congress party will never hesitate to form a secular Government,” he said. “I suggest that regional parties should elect Mamata Banerjee, who is secular, competent and honest beyond doubt, as their leader,” he said.
KT Rama Rao, senior TRS leader and son of party chief K Chandrashekhar Rao said, “As a new State (Telangana) has come into being, we would want the Union Government to be extremely supportive of Telangana. What will happen tomorrow, we don’t know. I cannot answer hypothetical questions.”
“The Parliamentary and legislative Committee of the party will take a decision on the issue (of support) at 12 pm a day after tomorrow,” Rao added.
DMK, on the other hand, was categorical in ruling out support to Modi-led Government. “We have minorities on our side and Modi has the stigma of 2002 riots. Hence, we cannot support NDA keeping in view our interest in our State,” party spokesperson TKS Elangovan said.
He added that supporting Modi would be a “tough decision” for DMK as it wants to back only a “secular Government” at the Centre. In a terse one sentence statement issued on Thursday, Jayalalithaa said Malaisamy the official spokesman of the AIADMK is being expelled from the party for his utterances on Wednesday. Malaisamy had told TV journalists that since Jayalalithaa has cordial personal rapport with Narendra Modi, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, he expected the party would extend support to the BJP-led NDA.
Jayalalithaa herself, who landed at Chennai Airport from Kodanadu Retreat in The Nilgiris on Wednesday, declined to open up her mind to the journalists. “Please wait till the results are announced on Friday. Everything will be clear by Friday,” is all what she told the media.
During the campaign, Jayalalithaa had made it known that only a Government in which the AIADMK is a strong partner would be able to get the demands of the State met. She had ruled out the possibilities of any kind of alliance with either the Congress or the BJP. What annoyed Jayalalithaa was Mailsamy’s audacity to violate party rules and speaking to the media about policy matters.