BJP’s 60-seat claim ruffles feathers in AIADMK

“The BJP is trying to exploit AIADMK and they are trying to increase their bargaining capacity. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, AIADMK gave five Lok Sabha seats of the total 39 in the state for the BJP which is less than 15 per cent,” said an AIADMK former MP.

In the case of Assembly polls, this equation usually reduces further. The AIADMK may consider around 20 to 25 seats, but the national party is trying to get more seats, hence such unrealistic speeches are given by the BJP leaders to exploit the alliance. Further, the recent I-T attachments on Sasikala family members owned property is also a veiled threat to the AIADMK and AMMK, a party senior opined.

According to AIADMK headquarters sources, a section of leaders wants the party to break the alliance with the BJP terming it unpopular among the public in Tamil Nadu, but a few want to continue the alliance with the BJP-led Centre.

“The leaders are waiting for the party’s general council and executive committee to meet so that the issues like alliances and the merger of AMMK will be discussed. The AIADMK will certainly hold the general council by the end of this year and party senior leaders like R Vaithilingam, CVe Shanmugam and rebel leader KCP Palaniswami are now holding talks with their loyalists and cadre on these issues,” said a former AIADMK MLA hinting that the fresh rounds of talks have emerged between the AIADMK and the AMMK functionaries.

In a matter of two months, there will be more clarity on the AIADMK alliance partners and there are possibilities for the merger of AMMK and AIADMK, the former legislator added.