Nagercoil, June 26: The BJP would never compel any partner of the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu to stay and those parties wishing to leave the alliance were free to do so, state BJP president C P Radhakrishnan has said. "The decision will be entirely their own," said the BJP leader after inaugurating the Kanyakumari-Chennai leg of his 'rath yatra' here last night.
In an apparent reference to the party's growing proximity to the AIADMK, he said the BJP had no "hidden relationship" with anybody in the state. He said the BJP would not allow barriers of communalism, linguistic or caste differences among people.
Union minister of state S Thirunavukarar said in reply to a question that the BJP would take a final decision on the alliance in Tamil Nadu after the rally culminated in Chennai on August 21. Radhakrishnan, representing Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, commenced his rath yatra yesterday with an eye on the 2004 Lok Sabha polls and will highlight the 'achievements' of the BJP-led government and most importantly, the continuation of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister.
The BJP leader, who plans to cover 234 assembly constituencies, will also touch upon issues like 33 per cent reservation for women in legislature and the national river linking project. Bureau Report