Chennai: Ending days of suspense, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) finally announced that it would ally with the BJP-led NDA and face the April 19 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.
Though the PMK has been talks with the major Opposition AIADMK, it has finally decided to ally with the BJP and Party President and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss will be sharing dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Salem later on Tuesday, where the pact will be concreticised.
The decision to ally with the BJP was taken jointly by PMK Founder Dr.S.Ramadoss and Dr Anbumani, who is also the former Union Minister, at a meeting of the party's high-level Committee held last night.
Before the Salem meeting, the BJP leaders comprising Party State Unit Chief K.Annamalai and Senior leaders are expected to sign the seat sharing pact at the Thailapuram residence of Dr Ramadoss after which the allocation of seats to PMK will be known.
The alliance with BJP was confirmed by PMK General Secretary Vadivel Ravanan to reporters who said the decision to go with the BJP was 'unanimous", though the AIADMK has been keen to have the Vanniyar outfit in its fold for the polls.
He also said Dr Anbumani will be sharing dais with Mr Modi at a BJP election meeting in Salem today, giving a major boost for the Saffron outfit ahead of the polls.
"PMK Founder Dr Ayya (as Dr Ramadoss was affectionately called) announced at the high-level committee meeting that the party will face the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP", Vaidevel Ravanan said.
The decision was taken in concurrence with Dr Anbumani, he said.
The highly influential Vanniyar outfit, the PMK wields considerable influence in the Northern Tamil Nadu and commands a committed vote back of above six per cent, which is expected to enhance the BJP's vote share in this polls.
Mr. Ravanan said the party exuded confidence and strongly believe that the alliance with the BJP would be beneficial to it and would secure the future of the party.
The PMK's sudden turn comes in the backdrop of reports that it will be inking the seat sharing pact with the AIADMK tomorrow, thereby causing a set back for the Dravidian major in the State.
Meanwhile, the seat sharing agreement was signed between the two parties, under which the PMK was allotted 10 seats by the BJP.
The Constituencies to be contested by the PMK will soon be identified, Mr Annamalai told reporters after inking the pact with the PMK Founder on Tuesday morning.
He said the PMK will contest in 10 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the Constituencies will be announced soon.
He also exuded confidence that this elections will witness a big change in the Tamil Nadu politics and that the BJP has formed a strong alliance with the support of the people.
Dr Anbumani said the PMK has taken this decision (to align with the BJP) to bring about change in Tamil Nadu and this belief is strong in the minds of the people of the State.
"We have taken this decision to bring about a change in TN as people are deeply yearning for a change", he said, adding "not only in Tamil Nadu, our alliance will secure a massive win and Mr Modi will be elected as the Prime Minister for a third term".