CHENNAI: The long-simmering realignment of Tamil Nadu’s Opposition politics appeared to move decisively forward on Friday, with the AIADMK and the BJP signalling renewed momentum in their alliance discussions, even as preparations began for a proposed visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month.
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said the Prime Minister is expected to visit the State in the last week of January, possibly to address a public meeting alongside alliance partners. Speaking to reporters after calling on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at his Greenways road residence here, Nainar described the interaction as ‘cordial and constructive’.
“We discussed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Tamil Nadu visit with our alliance leader Edappadi K Palaniswami. The visit is expected in the last week of January to attend a public meeting along with our alliance leaders,” Nainar said. He added that Chennai or Madurai were being considered as venues, with a final call to be taken shortly. “The Prime Minister’s visit is yet to be formally finalised,” he clarified.
On alliance and seat-sharing talks ahead of the Assembly elections, the BJP state chief struck a measured note. “Alliance matters and seat-sharing were discussed. Everything went smoothly. Details on the number of seats to be allotted to the BJP in the AIADMK-led NDA will be announced at the appropriate time,” he said, declining to be drawn into questions on constituencies or power-sharing arrangements.
Senior BJP leaders K P Ramalingam, K T Raghavan and R N Jayaprakash accompanied Nainar. The meeting, which lasted around 30 minutes, came a day after Palaniswami returned from New Delhi, where he had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Highly placed sources, however, suggested that Friday’s interaction focused less on seat arithmetic and more on logistical preparations for Modi’s proposed visit and the broader expansion of the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu. Significantly, Palaniswami did not deny reports of parallel negotiations involving his estranged rival TTV Dhinakaran.
Sources disclosed that Dhinakaran had met Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday night and conveyed his willingness to bring his party, the AMMK, into the NDA fold. “A formal announcement is expected soon. Discussions with EPS on seat allocation for the AMMK will be held, and Dhinakaran will also share the stage with the Prime Minister during the public meeting,” a senior BJP leader told DT Next.