Won’t need Jaya support to form govt, says Rajnath

Speaking to reporters at Thanjavur ahead of the meeting, Rajnath reiterated his party’s position: “There will be no further alliance after polls. We are fully confident and we will get a clear and comfortable majority.”

The AIADMK and the BJP are considered natural allies by their critics and supporters alike, and the leaders of the two parties, Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa and her Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, are said to have a good personal rapport.

While this would offer the BJP some comfort in the form of reserve seats if needed after results are declared on May 16, the scenario does not bode well for its regional allies in Tamil Nadu, especially the DMDK and the PMK, whose only common ground is their staunch opposition to Jayalalithaa.

Taking up the troubles of Tamil fishermen and Lankan Tamils, issues on which his regional allies have invested heavily, the BJP president said the next government formed by his party would work towards resolving the issues.

During his speeches, Singh repeated Modi’s criticisms against the AIADMK and the DMK that the two were more interested in taking vindictive action against one another rather than working for welfare of the people.