NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Congress president KS Alagiri on Thursday alleged that the BJP was exerting pressure on the ruling AIADMK in the state to induct VK Sasikala, close aide of former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa, into the party.
Citing reports, Alagiri alleged that the BJP wanted AIADMK to bring Sasikala into the party fold ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala is slated to be released on January 27. Lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru, she was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66-crore disproportionate assets case.
Sasikala was admitted to hospital on Thursday after after her health deteriorated in the Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru. She was taken to Victoria hospital for a scan from Bowring hospital.
Assembly elections are likely to be held in April-May.
Talking to mediapersons, Alagiri claimed that Sasikala’s will not have any impact on Tamil Nadu politics.
To a question on remarks by DMK youth wing secretary Udayanidhi Stalin that winnable seats should not be allotted to alliance partners, Alagiri said it would be decided by DMK president MK Stalin.
Matters relating to seat sharing will be resolved through dialogue, he said, adding that Congress was not in favour of a third front, which is not good for the state.
Noting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be on a three-day visit to the western districts of Tamil Nadu from January 23 to launch his election campaign, Alagiri said the focus will be on dislodging the incumbent government and installing a secular one in the state.
To another query, he said the Congress has not made any attempt to forge an alliance with actor-turned politician Kamal Hassan's MNM. However, Hassan is welcome to join the Secular Democratic Alliance, Alagiri added.
On the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the TNCC president said his party will neither oppose nor welcome if they were set free by court.
(With agency inputs)