OPS, Shah meet twice in Madurai, DMDK focal point of discussion

Despite Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who met BJP chief Amit Shah twice in Madurai on Friday, calling it a courtesy call by the party president, the two leaders reportedly went into a huddle and discussed DMDK’s delay in coming on board the AIADMK-led alliance.

Shah arrived in Madurai to take part in a function scheduled in the city and Ramanathapuram. Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK coodinator O Panneerselvam, along with Minister Sellur K Raju, Madurai MP Gopalakrishnan and Virudunagar MP Radhakrishnan met the BJP chief.

Sources said the leaders discussed DMDK and TMC joining the AIADMK-BJP front. BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan and CP Radhakrishnan who were present in the meeting, discussed seats allotted to the BJP.

The BJP had reportedly asked for Madurai constituency but the AIADMK has reportedly refused and in turn, has offered Tiruchy constituency. Shah, it is learnt, insisted that the AIADMK leader rope in the DMDK and the TMC into thealliance and even asked the ruling party if they couldoffer five seats to DMDK andtwo to TMC.

Meanwhile, rumours were rife about TMC president GK Vasan meeting Shah and discussing his stand in the alliance. However, later, Vasan told the media that he did not meet Shah.

Soundararajan, later told reporters in Madurai that DMDK would soon join the AIADMK-BJP led front and talks were under way.