TN: BJP tries to woo Vijayakant's DMDK

Amid intense efforts by the Congress to bring actor-turned-politician Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam into the the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front in Tamil Nadu, the Bharatiya Janata Party has also held discussions on a possible tie-up with the party for the Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP, which is without any allies in Tamil Nadu so far, has held "some preliminary talks" with DMDK, BJP state president L Ganesan told media persons in Chennai.

Ganesan, however, declined to attach much importance to the talks with DMDK, which polled eight per cent of the votes in the 2006 assembly elections and is perceived to be a significant player in the parliamentary polls.

The state politics, of late, has already seen the two major regional parties--the DMK and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam becoming part of the United Progressive Alliance, and the newly made Third Front, respectively.

Congress has openly expressed its desire that DMDK should be part of the DMK-led front and reportedly stepped up efforts to woo Vijayakant's party.

But, Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK chief M Karunanidhi had denied having extended any invitation to the DMDK and blamed a section of media for such reports.

Ganesan said DMDK could retain its 'identity' as a party opposed to the two Dravidian parties if it aligned with the BJP. "DMDK will lose its identity by aligning with either of the Dravidian parties, but can retain it by aligning with the BJP," he said.

Ganesan said parleys were also held with the the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi, led by actor R Sarathkumar.