BJP steps up efforts to woo AIADMK

The Bharatiya Janata Party, scouting for allies in the south, Friday sought to send feelers to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham, saying that there is a "fundamental divide" between the Jayalalithaa-led party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham following the stand taken by Karunanidhi on the Ram Sethu issue.

The saffron party dismissed as "hypothetical" when asked whether it will take back Karunanidhi into the NDA fold if he wants to return.

"It is a hypothetical question. He is now part of UPA", BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said addressing the press after the inaugural session of the party's national executive in Bengaluru.

Indicating that the strains have developed between BJP and DMK, Prasad, who is in-charge of BJP affairs in Tamil Nadu said, "Some of his (Karunanidhi's) utterances on Ram Sethu has created a fundamental divide between BJP and DMK."

On DMK's earlier alliance with the NDA, Prasad commented, "Past is past."

Following the strain with DMK, BJP leaders said they have sent "feelers" for a tie-up with the AIADMK ahead of the parliamentary polls.

It remains to be seen how Jayalalithaa reacts to the BJP initiative.