New Delhi: BJP is hopeful of increasing its tally of seats in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, senior leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal said as the party is exploring the possibility of a tie-up with smaller parties for the electoral battle.
“We are working to win the elections with Third Front. All our leaders are going actively into all the districts to meet workers and get feedback in areas where we are strong, where we have to focus our energies. We are confident that we will make a significant mark in Tamil Nadu.
Piyush Goyal “We are not negotiating with any party. We are talking to various smaller parties like MDMK and PMK. Our dialogue is going on with them. NDA had fought last elections very well. We hope to increase upon that effort and improve our tally this time,” Goyal, who is party’s co-incharge for Tamil Nadu polls, told reporters here.
Replying to questions, he said that the belief in the party is that BJP has to grow. “West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha – these are all the states, where BJP is growing very fast,” he claimed, adding, “We want the party to stand on its feet and become significant players in these states and win the elections.”
At a party meeting a few days back in Coimbatore, state BJP leaders also spoke on the issue of alliance, saying the party was prepared for both – to lead a front or contest alone – all the 234 Assembly seats. A couple of days back, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy gave a new twist to the issue by pitching for DMK, DMDK, BJP alliance in the state.
He expressed the hope that DMK chief M Karunanidhi will refuse to be the chief ministerial candidate to pave the way for his son Stalin to take up the post so that his party could tie up with the Dravidian outfit and DMDK could also be a partner.
PTI