Tiruchirapalli: Dhravida Telungar Munnnetra Kazhagam (DTMK) would be merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a function to be held in Chennai on October 26 and "follow the national stream", party founder G Kamatchi Naidu said in Tiruchirapalli on October 5.

Speaking to reporters after the executive council meeting of the party, he said the decision was unanimous and unconditional.

The merger date was finalised to suit the convenience of BJP president Venkaiah Naidu and Union ministers, he said.

''We are 'Vaishnavites' and staunch believers in God. We are all religious minded and as such we opted to mingle with the BJP,'' Kamatchi Naidu said when asked why he did not prefer any Dravidian party in Tamil Nadu.

''The statesmanship and high quality leadership of Prime Minister Vajpayee inspired us very much and we wanted to strengthen his hands,'' he said.

Vajpayee was doing his best in handling Pakistan and foreign relationship despite the "frictional attitudes of USA and UK", he said adding ''he had diligently handled the Cauvery issue.

Other factors for the decision were the "able leadership found in Vankaiah Naidu and the excellent friend in S Thirunavukkarasar", he said.

PTI