He also reiterated his firm stand against readmitting leaders who were earlier expelled from the AIADMK.
Chennai:Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday said his meeting with Amit Shah in New Delhi was confined to a discussion on the prevailing political situation in Tamil Nadu and did not involve any talks on alliances. He also reiterated his firm stand against readmitting leaders who were earlier expelled from the AIADMK.
Palaniswami, who reportedly met the Union home minister during a visit to Delhi, categorically ruled out the return of V.K. Sasikala and O. Panneerselvam to the party. He said his present focus was on strengthening the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly elections expected in March–April.
However, BJP sources claimed that Palaniswami had conveyed his consent to the induction of T.T.V. Dinakaran, founder of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, and that discussions were underway on seat-sharing arrangements between the BJP and the AIADMK.
The BJP is said to be keen on finalising the alliance and convening a joint meeting of alliance partners during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Tamil Nadu on January 23 or 28. Ahead of this, Union minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Chennai on January 20, during which the contours of the alliance are likely to be firmed up, sources said.
At present, the NDA in Tamil Nadu comprises the BJP, AIADMK and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) faction led by Anbumani Ramadoss.
Sources indicated that Mr. Shah was keen to discuss alliance-related issues with Mr. Palaniswami as the two leaders had not met during the Home Minister’s recent visits to Tamil Nadu. During one such visit, only AIADMK leader S.P. Velumani had met Mr. Shah in Tiruchi.
