High command will decide on alliance during polls: AIADMK

Two senior leaders of the ruling AIADMK today sought to make light of an article published in the party's mouthpiece suggesting that working with BJP would be like a "double-barrelled gun" in the political arena, with one of them saying a "columnist" cannot determine electoral pacts.

State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and AIADMK lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, M Thambidurai, maintained the decision on forging an alliance is taken by the party high command at the time of elections.

"This is not the right time. Only during election, alliances are decided. Only the party decides about that, not an individual columnist," Jayakumar told reporters.

Asked if AIADMK will oppose BJP "if it went against Tamil Nadu's interests," Jayakumar replied in the affirmative.

He said AIADMK was "as disciplined" as it was when late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was steering the party.

In politically significant comments, AIADMK's mouthpiece 'Namadhu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma' said yesterday signs of the party working with BJP like a "double-barrelled gun" in the political arena were visible and "no one can sever ties" between them.

Coming out strongly against the persistent protests led by the principal opposition DMK over the Cauvery dispute, the publication said "whatever be the number of protests and demonstrations, no one can sever ties between AIADMK and BJP."
Responding to the article, Thambidurai said there was no political pact between AIADMK and BJP "so far."