In an apparent bid to rope in the AIADMK into the NDA fold, despite knowing well that the numbers were not in their favour, the BJP offered to support an AIADMK candidate for the post of deputy chairperson in the Rajya Sabha, but this was turned down by Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa.
According to sources, prior to deciding to support Congress candidate P.J. Kurien for the slot, the BJP, which didn’t want to contest the poll fearing defeat, was willing to throw its weight behind a candidate fielded by Ms Jayalalithaa.
Sources also pointed to the assertion of BJP’s chief whip in the Upper House Ravishankar Prasad, “We are looking at all options. If one of the regional parties puts up a candidate against Kurien, we are likely to extend support to him or her.”
The BJP is trying to expand the NDA and the party believes that bringing in Ms Jayalalithaa would convince Odisha strongman, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, to join the NDA bandwagon, sources added.
Though the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK is not formally a part of the NDA, they have been coordinating their political moves both within and outside Parliament.