BJP aiming for 8 seats from AIADMK

The state BJP unit and a section of AIADMK functionaries are now keeping their fingers crossed for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and the visit of Amit Shah scheduled next week as the seat-sharing talks will take place during the last week of February. Party functionaries admitted that all the alliance talks are directly dealt by the party high command based in Delhi.

BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the political leaders in Tamil Nadu were more worried about the BJP and its alliance move than theirs. “Actor Kamal Haasan, VCK leader Thirumavalavan and TNCC leader KS Azhagiri are all focussed full time on BJP alliance. Whether we form an alliance with the AIADMK or not, is not the business of these opposition parties. We are taking efforts to form an alliance to fight the DMK and the Congress. Friendly parties are in touch with the BJP, but the alliances are yet to be finalised,” Tamilisai said.

However, the BJP, which is holding parleys with the ruling AIADMK to stitch a Lok Sabha poll alliance is all geared up and we are confident of a mega alliance under the banner of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, senior leaders in the AIADMK and the BJP confirmed to DT Next.

“Modi’s visit will strengthen the AIADMK and the BJP alliance talks. The BJP is eyeing around 8 seats from the AIADMK and is likely to contest in Central Chennai, South Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha seats,” the BJP functionary said.

“Both the AIADMK and the BJP are now coming closer and the key strategy is to form a mega alliance that will fight the DMK-led alliance. Though BJP’s popularity has been hit, the party wants to form a formidable alliance and is ready to accept the AIADMK leadership in Tamil Nadu,” said an AIADMK district secretary.

The issue was discussed during the party district secretaries meeting on Friday and the party leaders O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami said that they were working for a mega alliance in the state to fight against the DMK and its allies.

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan had also asserted that the party would forge a strong alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He further said that Modi’s visit to the districts in the state will energise the BJP cadre.