Tamil Maanila Congress (Moonapar) on Monday, February 26, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The seat sharing talks between the BJP and Tamil Maanila Congress is yet to be ironed out, sources told CNBC-TV18.
Tamil Maanila Congress is led by former union minister GK Vasan. It has become the first from Tamil Nadu to join the NDA after AIADMK walked out of the alliance in 2023.
Vasan will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public meeting at Palladam in Tirupur district on February 27, he told reporters here.
It may be noted that Vasan was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2020 with the support from the AIADMK. Vasan's announcement signals his party's end of ties with the AIADMK.
Vasan said his party, ever since the days of its founding by his late father and veteran leader G K Moopanar, has had a "national outlook" and said the decision to join hands with the BJP included issues like welfare of Tamil Nadu and Tamils and a strong and prosperous India.
Tamil Nadu voters had witnessed BJP winning the two earlier elections with good support from other states and want the saffron party to earn a third term to ensure economic development, betterment of the poor.
They have 'realised' that another term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead to economic prosperity and reduction in poverty, among others, the former union minister added.
The southern state has 38 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP did not win a single seat in the last General Elections.
With inputs from PTI
First Published: Feb 26, 2024 11:01 AM IST
