EPS-Venkaiah meet triggers speculation of patch-up

“Venkaiah Naidu is the unofficial representative of the BJP to hold talks with top brass of the AIADMK and whenever Venkaiah holds a meeting with either EPS (Edappadi K Palaniswami) or OPS (Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam), we can expect drastic changes in the stand of the party, mostly favouring the BJP,” said highly placed sources in the CM’s office. 

Venkaiah Naidu and Palaniswami met in the temple town on Monday evening. Though not much was reportedly discussed in the meeting, already speculation is doing the rounds in political circles.

At a time when there is a lot of friction in the political relationship between the AIADMK and BJP, the meeting assumes significance and if sources close to Palaniswami are to be believed, some drastic changes may be witnessed in the official stand of the AIADMK in the coming days. 

“Last time when Venkaiah Naidu met the top AIADMK leaders, former senior AIADMK leader KC Palaniswami was ousted for his negative comments on the BJP during the no-confidence motion moved against the government by the Congress. 

This meeting too could have some repercussions soon,” said the sources.

A source also claimed that the BJP has no option other than the AIADMK as the DMK had shut its door for the national party.

“Of late, various AIADMK leaders are voicing their views against the BJP in public meetings. It is a case of serious concern for the BJP, particularly after DMK president MK Stalin had categorically denied any ties with the BJP even after the polls. The BJP was seriously working to establish electoral ties with any of the two Dravidian parties and for now, the AIADMK seems to be the only available option,” said the sources. 

However, both Venkaiah Naidu and Palaniswami denied that they had spoken anything related to Tamil Nadu politics.

Venkaiah Naidu, while addressing the media, said, “I did not discuss anything related to Tamil Nadu politics with Palaniswami. I came to Tirupati as I completed one year of vice presidentship.”

Palaniswami too refused to speak about the meeting. 

“I came to offer special prayers to Lord Ezhumalaiyan for public wellbeing,” he said.