Chennai: The BJP efforts to take at least the smaller parties with it in facing the Assembly election appear to have put it in a bind. Its attempt to announce the final list of candidates is likely to be delayed further as it is unable to finalise seat sharing agreement with smaller parties, especially IJK and NJP, whose expectations are high.
Though the BJP was the first to announce its fist list of candidates for 54 Assembly constituencies on March 25, it is struggling to announce the names of its candidates for the remaining constituencies. It had begun parleys on seat-sharing in earnest, but the hard bargaining by its allies seems to have made the BJP defer the release of the second and final list of candidates. “Despite being the leader of the alliance we are willing to accommodate our allies. But their expectations are high,” a senior leader said. The Indhiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) founded by educationist T.R. Pachaimuthu, according to sources, is keen on obtaining about 45 seats.
Though the BJP is more than willing to bequeath them, there is a conflict of interests with regard to choice of constituencies, especially in Chennai, Kancheepuram and southern districts. Another ally, the New Justice Party, founded by A.C. Shanmugam has sought about 15 seats. Sources said the BJP would apportion 54 to 60 seats among its allies and contest from the rest out of 234 constituencies. Among others, state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan’s is likely to be fielded for the Virugambakkam constituency in the city.
