Shah’s visit assumes significance as AIADMK factions firm up merger

According to party sources, Amit Shah’s visit assumes significance as state unit functionaries have been advised to focus on rural voters and reach out to them by explaining the Centre’s various schemes. The party is now keeping an eye on wooing rural voters to get votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“We have arranged for a bike rally on August 22 morning and our leader will garland Thiruvalluvar statue. We will then hold a party meeting, in which we can explain our expansion programme,” said a second rung leader of the party. He added that they had roped in many people from the villages for the rally.

“Earlier, we had faced shortage of cadre at the booth level. But, now we are strong and ready to face any election. We will emerge as a major political party in the state,” the leader added.

However, political observers here opine that Shah’s visit could create a ripple and they could even increase their vote bank before the coming elections. Amid rumours that most of the affairs of the AIADMK are being remote controlled by the Centre, they pointed out that both the OPS and EPS camps would go for a merger before the BJP national president’s visit to pose a united front and thus make a better bargain, if talks of a possible alliance emerge regarding the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.