M K Alagiri, the disgruntled son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam patriarch M Karunanidhi, has reached out to the Bharatiya Janata Party with an offer of support in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Alagiri, who was suspended from his party recently, met BJP President Rajnath Singh during his visit to Delhi, sources said.
The former Union minister and Singh discussed the current political situation, they said.
Alagiri offered his support for the BJP alliance which also includes the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, sources said.
The Madurai strongman has considerable influence in nearly seven Lok Sabha constituencies in south Tamil Nadu.
He had fielded some rebel candidates against DMK in the 2001 assembly elections, which caused a lot of damage to the party in 12 constituencies.
The meeting was fixed through a senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu.
The move comes at a time when the former Union minister is fuming over his suspension and the rise of his younger brother M K Stalin in the party affairs.
Moreover, Alagiri is said to be furious over the denial of tickets for his supporters, which is an indication that he being sidelined from the DMK.
Denied a ticket and embarrassing the party by meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Alagiri had on Thursday said he would decide the future course of action after consulting his supporters, amid reports that may float his own outfit.
"I would surely play a role. But I cannot indicate the kind of role," the sulking leader had stated.
Image: DMK chief Karunanidhi with Alagiri in happier times
