The new bonhomie between erstwhile political foes DMDK and PMK in the run up to Lok Sabha polls is ratcheting up the morale of cadres of both the parties in Tamil Nadu raising hopes of good performance of NDA.
The offer of support by DMDK Chief Vijakanth to PMK nominee in Puducherry Anantharaman is a culmination of a series of conciliatory moves on the part of both the parties signalling a new thaw in their relationship and leading to the enhancing of poll prospects of PMK.
Before DMDK and PMK walked into the NDA alliance, the leaders of both parties were not seeing eye to eye, but have now buried hatchet reminiscing the adage no body is a permanent foe or friend in politics.
Both the parties initially avoided reference to each other during the campaign and focused on Modi's "model of good governance" in electioneering in Tamil Nadu, but now on an aggressive electioneering is witnessed seeking votes for all NDA nominees.
On April 5, the DMDK announced that it would keep "equal distance" from both the All India NR Congress (AINRC) led by by Chief Minister N Rangasamy and the PMK in Puducherry. DMDK said its flags, banners or portraits of its leader Vijayakanth should not be used in the campaign by "any political party" in Puducherry.
Slowly, efforts by the BJP leadership ably supported by MDMK chief Vaiko, who enjoys a good rapport with both PMK chief Ramadoss and DMDK's Vijayakanth, began to bear fruit.
On April 7, Anbumani Ramadoss campaigned in support of DMDK nominee L K Sudhish in Salem constituency. "Sudhish will win by over two lakh votes and become a Union Minister at the Centre," he said.
Interestingly, Salem seat was at the centre of bickering between the DMDK and the PMK and proved to be a stumbling block to the BJP to firm up ties with the DMDK and the PMK.
In a reciprocal gesture, DMDK chief Vijayakanth campaigned for PMK candidate Vadivel Ravanan in Nagapattinam constituency. The PMK and DMDK leaders are expected to campaign in more constituencies for each other. The new found bonhomie is expected to bring the grassroots level workers of PMK and DMDK together on the ground.
The next item on agenda, party sources say is to bring the senior Ramadoss on a "common platform" where Vijayakanth, Anbumani and other NDA partners will be present.
"There should be no doubt among the party workers especially at the ground level about our commitment to each other. Hence, we are trying for such a meeting," a senior PMK leader said who does not want to be named.
"In fact, a luncheon meeting or a dinner is also on the cards," he added.
G K Mani, president of PMK said in a statement, "it is gladdening to note that the cadres of all the political parties in the NDA are working in cohesion like a family," adding partners should [continue to] slog to win in all the 39 constituencies.