L.K. Advani sees a ‘natural ally’ in Jayalalithaa for NDA

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BJP leader L.K. Advani on Saturday said Ms J. Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK was functioning like a natural ally of his party.

“Although the AIADMK is not formally part of NDA, yet, our informal cooperation with Jayalalithaa’s party and, especially floor coordination with it in Parliament, has been going on,” Advani said at the anniversary celebration of Tamil magazine Thuglak.

He said AIADMK and BJP held convergent views on several issues. Moreover, there are issues on which the principles and practices of Congress are divergent.

Citing the Centre-state relationship, he recalled Jayalalithaa’s remark at the national development council meeting that states were treated as glorified municipal corporations whereas they should be regarded as partners of governance.

He lamented that India was backward even after 50 years of Independence. “Good governance and corruption can’t co-exist. In a democracy, democracy and dynastic succession cannot co-exist.”

He saw rapid change in atmosphere and soaring confidence in Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa returned to power. “Today, our country needs more and more transformational leaders like Narendra Modi and Jayalalithaa,” he remarked.