Doors open for parties, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the BJP's doors are "always open for parties", sending out a message amid speculation that his party could have poll alliances in Tamil Nadu.

"We cherish our old friends and our doors are always open for parties," he said while addressing the BJP workers via video conference.

His comment came in response to a question whether the BJP would have alliance with AIADMK, DMK or film star-turned-politician Rajnikanth in Tamil Nadu.

"But more than political issues, winning alliance is alliance with people," Modi added.

Referring to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he said even when the BJP won majority on its own, "we preferred to run government with our allies".

While delving on the alliances, he spoke about the successful coalition government formed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying it was a "new culture" in Indian politics.

He said the BJP had followed the path shown by Vajpayee.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had formed a six-party alliance comprising smaller parties like DMDK, PMK and MDMK. The alliance, however, won only two of the 39 seats at stake - one by BJP and one by PMK. The alliance broke up subsequently.

The Prime Minister, in an interview to ANI earlier this month, was asked whether there was any move of film stars-turned-politicians Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan joining the NDA.

In his reply, he had said, "We are continuously striving to expand our base. We are ready to take everyone along, those who want to come with us, those with whom we can walk. It is linked to our strengthening the regional aspirations.