BJP, NDA to remain unaffected by MDMK's quitting alliance

With MDMK quitting the NDA in Tamil Nadu, BJP today said the departure of the Vaiko-led party would not have any impact at the ground level in the state.

"I am confident that BJP and NDA will not get affected at the ground level in Tamil Nadu, against the backdrop of MDMK severing ties with us," BJP general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, P Muralidhar Rao told PTI.

Underscoring that the parting of ways by MDMK was "unfortunate", he stressed that BJP had restrained from reacting to the "provocative" statements of Vaiko.

"We were completely restrained, though he was taking potshots in public," Rao said, alleging that MDMK attempted to provoke BJP with its planned statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government.

The BJP leader also said that Vaiko has taken the decision "himself" and BJP neither regrets nor is happy about the development.

"BJP does not regret or feel happy about Vaiko's decision," he said.

Earlier in the day, MDMK, at its District Secretaries meeting held at Chennai, adopted a unanimous resolution to walk out of the NDA, the alliance it joined on the eve of Lok Sabha polls, alleging that the BJP government at the Centre was acting against Tamils and betrayed the people of the state.

The resolution moved by party supremo Vaiko declared that "MDMK can no more be part of the BJP-led NDA as the saffron party-led government has been insensitive to a host of issues concerning Tamil Nadu including Mullaperiyar dam issue".