BJP leader L.K. Advani on Saturday said the AIADMK was functioning like a natural ally of his party.
“Although the AIADMK is not formally part of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), yet, our informal cooperation with Ms Jayalalithaa’s party and, especially floor coordination with it in Parliament, has been going on,” Mr Advani said at the anniversary celebration of Tamil magazine Tughlaq.
He said the AIADMK and BJP held convergent views on several issues. Moreover, there are issues on which the principles and practices of the Congress are divergent.
Citing the Centre-state relationship, he recalled Ms Jayalalithaa’s remark at the national development council meeting that states were treated as glorified municipal corporations whereas they should be regarded as partners of governance. He lamented that India was backward even after 50 years of Independence.