"We regard Jayalalithaa as our natural ally. Although the AIADMK is not formally a part of the NDA yet, our informal cooperation with the party and especially coordination in Parliament has been growing," Advani said in Chennai.
He showered praise on the Jayalalithaa government and said he was happy to see an atmosphere of rapid change and soaring confidence after she won the mandate.
"There are several important issues on which our parties hold convergent views and moreover, these are the very issues on which the principles and practices of the Congress are divergent. Today, our country needs more and more transformational leaders like Jayalalithaa and (Gujarat CM) Narendra Modi," he said, with Modi by his side. They were participating in the 42nd anniversary celebrations of 'Tughlak', a Tamil weekly edited by Cho Ramasamy.
Taking a dig at the media, Advani advised it not to indulge in kite flying. "I am well aware that kite flying has a peculiar connotation in English and our journalists who are present in this hall are particularly prone to indulging in some kite flying after seeing both Modi and me at Cho's event in the state ruled by Jayalalithaa.
Let me assure that there is no need to fly any imaginary kites. Let me state right at the beginning that we regard Jayalalithaa as our natural ally," he said.
Flaying the Congress for its "delusionary" belief that India was "a fiefdom of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty", Advani said, "Those who believe in democracy and healthy Centre-state relations must come together to defeat this arrogant mindset." This was why the BJP and AIADMK have come together on several issues, including the Lokpal Bill, he said.
Modi, on his part, also praised Jayalalithaa saying Tamil Nadu will march on the path of good governance under her leadership. While the two leaders were scheduled to meet Jayalalithaa, their tight schedule, which included a visit to the family of state BJP leader Sukumaran Nambiar who passed away recently, did not permit it.
Cho Ramasamy, who is increasingly being perceived as Jayalalithaa's close confidante and adviser, strongly mooted her candidature for the post of prime minister. "Advani is the main person in the BJP, but we see Modi also as a prime ministerial candidate, and the BJP is sure to win the next elections. But if issues like secularism crop up, then at least a BJP supported government should come to power and so BJP should consider supporting Jayalalithaa as the PM candidate," he said. Making an oblique reference to the expulsions of Jayalalithaa's close associate Sasikalaa and her relatives, Cho said, "It was a surgical operation and Jayalalithaa did it well."
The annual Tuglak function, which provides a forum for readers to interact with Cho and the other guests, threw up some interesting queries with one reader seeking to know if Advani would recommend Modi as the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP. Replying to the question, Advani, who narrated a story about a family which encouraged its young members to grow, said he too was happy about Modi's growth and was not averse to him being propped up as a prime ministerial candidate.
"I know of families where younger people show more talent than elders. The elders don't feel the youngsters are becoming bigger than the family. Instead they feel proud," he said.
