CUDDALORE: Days after Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) chief Vijayakant was asked to become a king instead of playing the role of a kingmaker, by his cadre, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) appear inclined to accept him as the chief ministerial candidate, should he decide to throw his lot with them.
Talking to reporters, State secretary of BJP K T Raghavan, who was here to attend a party meet, said, “Vijayakant continues to be a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Our national secretary Muralidhar Rao has agreed to accept Vijayakant as the chief ministerial candidate. We are also of the same opinion. Even during the last Lok Sabha polls, even though it is the BJP which put together a coalition, it is the DMDK which contested in maximum number of constituencies by virtue of being the largest party in the alliance.”
When asked about his party leader Thol Thirumavalavan opinion that Vjiayakant could be declared the CM candidate of the PWA, VCK general secretary D Ravikumar said, “If Vijayakant comes forward to the People Welfare Alliance (PWA) with a specific demand, the leaders of the four party-alliance would hold a discussion on this.”
He further said, “The need of the hour is an alternative force to the Dravidian majors. We have put conceived a Common Minimum Programme (CMP). If Vijayakant accepts it, we would welcome that. Whichever leader of the PWA takes over as the chief minister, he is only going to implement the promises made in the CMP.” However, other constituents of the PWA are yet to express their views.