Talks continue with DMDK to finalise number of seats today

The BJP’s bullish run received a jolt after DMDK founder Vijayakanth held the saffron party to ransom. While BJP leaders Piyush Goyal, Muralidhar Rao and Pon Radhakrishnan emerged jubilant during the earlier seat sharing talks with AIADMK, the mood was dull after their visit to DMDK leader Vijayakanth’s residence. 

Speaking to reporters outside Captain’s residence, Goyal said, “Not every visit is related to alliance. Our party chief Amit Shah wanted to convey his greetings and check upon the health of captain Vijayakanth. This was a personal visit and we wish the DMDK founder a healthy life ahead.” 

However, reliable sources in the AIADMK confided that the party is not keen on direct talks with the DMDK and wanted the BJP to hold parleys with the captain’s team. BJP leaders were stumped as the DMDK opened the talks insisting for a similar agreement like the PMK-AIADMK pact. Left with no other choice, the BJP has again reached out to the AIADMK leadership. 

“Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s go-to man P Thangamani is reworking the poll talks and there will be fresh discussions again with the DMDK,” an AIADMK senior said.

After the PMK finalised the alliance with the AIADMK by grabbing seven seats, another key partner in the alliance, the DMDK, too demanded the same number of seats and refused to accept anything short of it. If the AIADMK sources are to be believed, Minister Thangamani and Velumani are going to hold talks with the DMDK leaders to finalise the seat sharing. 

The alliance talks between the BJP and the DMDK failed, on Tuesday, as the DMDK refused to accept the seats offered to them in the alliance. 

According to well placed sources in the DMDK, the party demanded seven seats on a par with the PMK. As the AIADMK was not ready to concede to the demands of the DMDK the talks are still dragging. To finalise the talks, Ministers will be coordinating with DMDK leader LK Sudhish, who is also the brother-in-law of DMDK founder Vijayakant.  

The numbers are not in favour of the DMDK as the AIADMK decided to contest in at least 20 seats and in the remaining 20 seats, PMK had grabbed seven and BJP had grabbed five. Puthiya Tamizhagam, Pudhiya Needhi Katchi and IJK will contest in one seat respectively and there are only five seats remaining. If NR Congress comes into the AIADMK alliance for Puducherry Parliament seat, the DMDK will further have seats reduced to four. However, according to AIADMK sources the party is planning to bring the DMDK into its alliance by giving three seats to the party with other poll related promises.