MADURAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko has said his party will work along with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to achieve common goals in the interests of the State.

In an interview to The Hindu , Mr. Vaiko said the MDMK had not compromised on its ideology by aligning with the AIADMK for the Assembly elections. "We will continue to advocate implementation of linking of rivers scheme and the Sethusamudram project. The objections raised by Ms. Jayalalithaa on environmental issues and the problems of fishermen [with regard to the Sethusamudram project] can be discussed and sorted out."

Elaborating on the alliance, he said: "This is a natural alliance which the voters have accepted. There is an excellent relationship between cadres of both the parties."

Praising the welfare measures undertaken by the AIADMK regime, he said the free bicycle scheme and the security scheme for farmers were being widely discussed by people all over the State.

The arrest of Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi established the dictum that all were equal before law.

By ending the Veerappan menace and handling tsunami/flood relief professionally, Ms. Jayalalithaa had proved her mettle.

On the decision to quit the Democratic Progressive Alliance, he said the MDMK cadres were keen to be relieved of the "DMK conspiracy syndrome." The DMK had planned to sabotage the MDMK during and after the polls.

Dismissing the charge that he was an opportunist, he said, "When it suits them (the DMK leaders), it is diplomacy and strategy. Otherwise, they will label it as opportunism."

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