AIADMK front seat list likely by weekend

The party is also involved in the onerous task of cooling down many disgruntled MPs by promising party posts, positions in various state welfare boards and state committees. It had also reached out to the state ministers and heavy weights to focus more on the 18 Assembly segments which will go to polls along with the Lok Sabha seats on April 18.

“We have to win at least six seats to win simple majority. Our leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam are attaching importance to the Assembly bypolls,” said an AIADMK senior and added that some of the MPs may also be fielded in the Assembly constituencies. Heavy weights like R Vaithiligam and KP Munusamy, who are party deputy convenors, may be among the popular choices to brighten the prospects for the party.

In case of Hosur Assembly seat,which fell vacant due to the disqualification of minister Balakrishna Reddy for his involvement in a riot case, the party is planning to field his wife S Jyothi. Similarly sitting Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam may be the party’s pick for Thanjavur Assembly segment.

Chief Minister Palaniswami has also identified 16 LS seats that will be given to alliance partners and has discussed about the dissent that would mushroom. Already the party seniors have reached out to MPs in Central Chennai, Cuddalore, Arakkonam, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Kallakurichi and Vellore, which may be allotted to alliance partners.

Meanwhile, AIADMK ally MJK, which has an MLA representing Nagapattinam, passed resolution on Friday stating that the party would support the DMK- Congress combine in the Assembly bypolls and Lok Sabha elections.

With the AIADMK and the BJP entering into a poll agreement, minor parties with Muslim office-bearers like MNK, SDPI, IUML and MJK have resolved to vote against the AIADMK- BJP front.