MK Stalin fishing in troubled waters: BJP on his 'no-confidence motion' plan

In the backdrop of likely merger of two AIADMK factions after the removal of TTV Dinakaran as AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary, MK Stalin had said on Friday DMK would move a no-confidence motion against the government "if required".

"DMK working president MK Stalin is trying to fish in troubled waters. When he says, he will move a no-confidence motion if required, it shows he is not confident about that," BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters here.

She said the announcement was made with the intention of keeping the media spotlight on Stalin, who is also the Leader of Opposition.

Speculation are also rife that post-merger, the AIADMK might join the BJP-led NDA.

The BJP is aiming to make inroads in the southern state where it has just one Lok Sabha MP and no representation in the 234-member Assembly.

Edappadi K Palaniswami, who was sworn-in as chief minister following a revolt by his predecessor O Panneerselvam against jailed party chief VK Sasikala earlier this year, had won a trust vote on February 18 in the Assembly.

On BJP, National President Amit Shah's upcoming three-day tour of Tamil Nadu starting August 22, Tamilisai Soundararajan said it was aimed at strengthening party's "fundamental structure".

Besides interacting with party office-bearers, Shah is scheduled to meet a range of people, including scholars and others from various fields, she added.

With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP national president is travelling across country to strategies and find ways to strengthen the party at grassroots level.

The BJP-led Centre and the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu are maintaining "cordial" relations to ensure delivery of their various good schemes, Tamilisai Soundararajan said.