DHAKA: Jayalalithaa, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, has expelled a leader from her party for suggesting that she will ally with Narendra Modi, widely expected to be India’s next prime minister.  

K Malaisamy, a former parliamentarian from the AIADMK, said that Modi ‘is a great friend of Jayalalithaa’ even if ‘they may differ politically’.

‘If he becomes Prime Minister, then madam (J Jayalalithaa) would like close ties,’ Malaisamy had opined.  He has been charged with ‘bringing disrepute to the party’.

Jayalalithaa, a former movie star, had not contradicted him, telling reporters ‘Let’s wait for the results’ which will be declared on Thursday, reports NDTV.

NDTV’s exit poll shows Modi and his party, the BJP, trouncing the Congress and landing a majority with allies.

Jayalalithaa is forecast to emerge as the third-largest party with 32 parliamentary seats.

The exit poll gives the BJP's coalition 279 seats, seven more than it needs to form the government.

In order to build a more stable coalition, there has been speculation that Modi will seek a partnership with Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK.

BDST: 1503 HRS, MAY 14, 2014