AIADMK meet on Feb 8 ahead of PM visit

After presenting the state budget for this financial year on February 8, the AIADMK leaders Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will chair the district secretaries, MLAs and MPs meeting here in AIADMK headquarters. The meeting is to discuss about poll possibilities and alliance, sources said.

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar on Tuesday said that the AIADMK is open for alliance with all the parties in the state except the DMK and the AMMK. 

Addressing the media, Jayakumar said, “When AIADMK was formed by late chief minister MG Ramachandran, he said that DMK is a corrupt party and is not needed in Tamil Nadu. So, except the DMK and the AMMK all parties are welcome for an alliance.”

He dismissed confirmation of any alliance, but hinted talks were under way with friendly parties. He also said that at the eleventh-hour alliance equations would change and even those parties who opposed AIADMK will come into alliance with them.

While the opposition DMK has formed an alliance with Congress, CPI, CPM, MDMK and VCK, the AIADMK is likely to join hands with the saffron party, so that it could project a PM candidate in the absence of its charismatic leader J Jayalalithaa, party sources said.

“The upcoming meeting is absolutely for discussing the election preparations. Our coordinators Panneerselvam and Palaniswami have called for the district secretaries, MPs and MLAs meeting. In this meeting we would discuss how to approach the ensuing Lok Sabha polls,” an AIADMK MLA told DT Next.

Meanwhile, PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss said that the party is holding talks with both the DMK and the AIADMK for an alliance. 

DMDK chief Vijayakanth, who is currently undergoing treatment in the US for thyroid ailments, has not disclosed his alliance strategy.