BJP leaders in city, may seal deal with AIADMK

Late on Thursday, Goyal went into a huddle with State Ministers P Thangamani and SP Velumani, and senior party leader R Vaithilingam at a private residence reportedly  to finalise the alliance deal which is also expected to include  PMK and DMDK, sources confirmed.

Speaking to reporters earlier, Goyal said, “Prime Minister Narendra  Modi wants more ministerial representations from TN and we will work with our friends in the state to form an alliance. Amma and Modi were  good friends.”

BJP sources said Goyal, who is also the TN election in-charge, was updated about poll dynamics in the southern state and briefed about the DMDK founder Vijayakanth’s return, currently  undergoing treatment abroad, on Saturday.

“After finalising the alliance, the second round of talks on seat sharing and constituencies will take place by next week,” a reliable source said. In a related development, several key AIADMK leaders, including state ministers, arrived at the residence of Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami late on Thursday.

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar, when contacted for his reaction about the visit of BJP leaders here , said that decisions on  alliances  were not yet confirmed. “Party leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Pannnerselvam will take a decision in a few days,” he said.

Meanwhile, Amit Shah reviewed the party booth level arrangements in  Erode while Ravi Shankar Prasad conducted inter-actions with party workers in Vellore. 

“I am visiting Vellore and Madurai to hold meetings with BJP shakti kendras and there is a resurgence across the country in support of PM Modi. The public want Modi to continue as the PM and regardless of the political divide, Tamils will vote for the BJP,”  Prasad told reporters earlier in the day.

Former Puducherry CM and NR Congress leader NR Rangaswamy also arrived at Palaniswami’s residence.