CHENNAI: A day after the PMK announced its decision to go with the BJP-led NDA for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, PMK founder S Ramadoss and BJP State president K Annamalai on Tuesday signed the seat-sharing agreement at the former’s Thailapuram residence.
The PMK has been allotted 10 seats in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu. The constituencies to be contested by the PMK will be announced later.
When asked whether the PMK will be given a Rajya Sabha seat as well, Annamalai and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss evaded the question.
Soon after signing the agreement, Anbumani attacked both Dravidian majors, without naming them.
He said: "There is a hatred prevailing among the people of Tamil Nadu to the parties which ruled the State for the past 60 years. The people are eagerly awaiting a change. To fulfil that wish of the people, PMK has taken this decision to align with NDA."
However, it is to be noted that the PMK has been in alliance with both the Dravidian parties many times in the past. Recently, for the 2021 Assembly elections, PMK was in alliance with the AIADMK.
Anbumani Ramadoss also said, "For the past 10 years, the PMK has been a partner of the NDA. The PMK will now contest the LS Polls in alliance with the NDA. The PMK took this decision to ensure the continuance of the government led by Narendra Modi as PM once again and to bring in changes in Tamil Nadu. The NDA will have a big victory not only in Tamil Nadu but also at the national level."
Annamalai, who addressed the reporters, said, "It is a strong alliance. The political scenario has changed since Monday night due to the decision taken by PMK to align with the BJP-led NDA. We came to Thailapuram from Coimbatore overnight. Both S Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss will be taking part in the public meeting to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
Hailing PMK founder Ramadoss as a leader who has huge respect among the senior leaders of the BJP, Annamalai said, "The PMK founder has a big dream to bring in revolutionary change in Tamil Nadu. Prime Minister Modi is implementing many things that the PMK founder aspired to in the country. Anbumani Ramadoss is a leader who strives to bring in alternative politics in Tamil Nadu."
Annamalai also referred to Anbumani Ramadoss' remark about the two Dravidian parties and said, "Our alliance is facing the Lok Sabha elections as a strong alternative to these parties. This alliance will register a big victory in the current Lok Sabha elections and will cause a political change in the State in the 2026 Assembly elections."
Annamalai said S Ramadoss will be the senior leader of the NDA and his experience will strengthen the NDA at the national level. "It is the duty of the BJP to give full respect to the PMK founder. Our Prime Minister will take care of that."
The BJP delegation comprising Annamalai and Union Minister L Murugan arrived at Thailapuram residence at around 6.30 a.m. and Anbumani Ramadoss received the BJP leaders by presenting them shawls. Annamalai and the PMK founder and president exchanged pleasantries and interacted for some time in the presence of senior leaders of both parties. Later, BJP leaders and PMK leaders held discussions in a room, and then, S Ramadoss signed the seat-sharing agreement first and after this, Annamalai signed the poll pact.
The BJP leaders also invited the PMK founder and the PMK president to the public meeting to be addressed by Modi in Salem later in the day and both the PMK leaders agreed to take part.